The Break-Up

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

Kiss your Pretty Woman goodbye—The Break-Up is the first chick flick guys are going to like better than their girlfriends. This one breaks all the romantic comedy rules—in fact, "romantic" is stretching it. Vince Vaughn (following up Wedding Crashers with another winner) and his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend (a terrific Jennifer Aniston) bitch at each other throughout the whole movie. This is the exception to Hollywood's rule that A-list stars have to fall passionately in love and moon over each other for the rest of the film. These are two people who love each other but can't live together. And by casting the wisecracking, average-looking Vaughn in a role usually reserved for a Cruise or a Pitt, you actually can relate to what they're going through. In fact, The Break-Up should be required viewing for anyone who is, has ever been, or thinks they will be in a relationship. The Break-Up is a hilarious, honest, edgy, and painfully funny movie that truly proves men and women really are from different planets. Scenes where Vaughn goes off to the local hangout to commiserate with bartender Jon Favreau are priceless. This ranks as one of the best American comedies in years, maybe since those same two guys gave us the immortal Swingers a decade ago.