The Break-Up (2006)

As the title suggests, this film focuses on the break-up of a couple, which arises when she feels underappreciated and he feels overly nagged. It's a comedy but realistically there isn't that much obvious humour, and it actually takes a pretty serious look at the rapid disintegration of good relations, albeit in a quite obvious way.

For me the film's first stumbling block was the unrealistic pairing of Gary (Vince Vaughn), a slobbish tourbus guide, and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston), a slightly sophisticated art dealer. We have asked to suspend our belief and imagine that these two actually have a common interest. It's not at all surprising when the relationship ends,a s a result or Gary's lack of willingness to take interest in Brooke's needs and Brooke's constant compromising to accomodate him. Unarguably, the reltionship ending is Gary's fault, even if the film tries to suggest they are equally to blame. What ensues is a battle to assert each's personality over the apartment they still share, and to convince the other that they have moved one. This means Gary parties and gets drunk, whilst Brooke goes on blind dates to make him jealous. Eventually, however, they mature and begin to look at the relationship and their own feelings far more seriously, and we wonder if the previous conflict was really neccesary - but that's probably the reality of many break-ups.

The film is entertaining if perhaps a little lacking in substance. Vince Vaughn provides comedy with his sharp, argumentative dialogue, but it's very difficult to be sympathetic with him; constantly playing computer games and refusing to accept his faults. Jennifer Aniston puts in a more serious performance and it's through her that we really see the stress of the change in their situation, although Brooke's attempts to cut down Gary are often more petty. Her idea being that she can break him down and make him feel utterly terrible enough for him to reform and fight to win her back. In truth they're both as bad as each other.

It's interesting to see a film that gives a new spin on a well worn genre, and examining that part of a relationship that most romantic comedies would like to imagine will never happen. The chemistry of the sparring couple is slightly reminiscient of Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn but without the charm and confidence; perhaps a sign of the times more than anything else. In fact, I imagine the best use for this film will be to look back in the future and gain an understanding of how relationships were conducted in this time. Just think, if you look back fifty years there's no way an unmarried couple would be living together and fighting so openly, and it's also unlikely that Brooke would be so independent. Who knows how much more different things will be in another fifty years.

It's not the most entertaining film of recent years, nor the funniest, most emotionally effective or most probing, but it's ok - and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally like this kind of film.