The Break-Up with Vince Vaughn & Jennifer Aniston: Real Life Duo Hits Comedic Mark in Latest Movie

With Vince Vaughn as the lead actor, there is some predictability as to what type of movie The Break-Up is going to be. Then the trailer follows highlighting various witty, sarcastic bits along with some physical comedy and you are certain the movie is this year’s foray into the summer blockbuster extravaganza, i.e. Wedding Crashers. You could not be more wrong.

The name and trailers are misleading, but The Break-Up is thoroughly a drama from beginning to end. And those who came to the theaters prepared to laugh at possibly the best comedic actor in Hollywood will be disappointed. However, for those open-minded to simply watching a good movie, you are in for a treat.

The Break-Up features the real-life couple of Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. Vaughn plays Gary Grobowski, one of three Polish brothers who run bus tour company in the heart of Chicago. Johnny O (Jon Favreau) is Gary’s best friend and they exude the same comedic chemistry as they did in Swingers, although a bit more mature.

From the outset, viewers are taken on the ride from the hilarious way that Gary asks Brooke Meyers (Aniston) out for a drink at a Cubs game and we are soon taken through their relationship to the title – the actual break-up. Brooke runs an art gallery of the eclectic Marilyn Dean (played wonderfully by Judy Davis) and the couple could not be any more different from each other.

After dating for two years, the tension keeps building as Gary wants nothing but a relationship of convenience that works around drinking, Cubs games, and Playstation football. Brooke wants to be appreciated and for Gary to become more cultured. It’s formulaic from the beginning, but Vaughn specifically is able to carry the film in ways he has never had a chance to exhibit before.

The Break-Up has its hilarious moments, but it’s actually more drama than anything else. There is no light-hearted ending here to make the viewer feel good inside and there are definite emotions to be wrestled with. This is hardly a work of art, but it’s bit more than your standard summer-filler.

There is nothing new here, but director Peyton Reed handles it well, which is surprising considering his track record is directing the Upright Citizen’s Brigade on Comedy Central and the Renee Zellweger flop Down With Love. Vaughn and Aniston are clearly the stars and Reed allows them to shine as brightly as they can. And in this case, the result is brighter than you might think.