THE BREAK-UP
US, 2006, 106 minutes, Colour.
Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Judy Davis, Justin Long, Ivan Sergei, John Michael Higgins, Ann Margret, Vincent Donofrio.
Directed by Peyton Reed.
One tries to put out of one’s mind that just before this film was made, its star, Jennifer Aniston, experienced a very public marriage break-up, with no possibility of reconciliation. That means this film is, at least, topical. Another interesting external fact is that, along with Failure to Launch (not entirely dissimilar in themes), The Break-up has taken more that one hundred million dollars at the US box-office. This is well above average for any film. It must have hit some kind of American nerve.
A rather smug and oafish Vince Vaughn hits on Jennifer Aniston at the beginning of the film and soon they are married. Eventually, it is a family dinner which she has carefully prepared and that he is no help with that brings the crisis in the marriage to a bitter head. Unless you are an obtuse an insensitive male chauvinist pig (which is how the Vince Vaughn character behaves) you will be all sympathy for Jennifer Aniston’s position.
The ways of solving the impasse leave a lot to be desired but that is what being emotionally lost can be like? Desperately seeking partners, desperately seeking love, desperately avoiding loneliness.
You wonder how the film could possibly end with such lack of communication and with such animosity, especially as the couple have to live their separate lives in the same apartment until it is sold. But, there is some breakthrough at the end – and a good, contrite speech which is to the credit of Vince Vaughn.
The film is brimful of cameos, many of which are too short, like Ann Margret appearing only at the dinner as Jennifer Aniston’s mother or Judy Davis (always an off-kilter scene-stealer) in three sequences as an eccentrically wilful gallery owner or Jon Favreau as the friend who quietly reads the riot act about selfishness.
Actually, the film does have some helpful things to say about marriage and commitment.
1.The title, expectations? Marriage, separation, divorce?
2.The serious themes? The comic style? How well did they blend?
3.The Chicago settings, the tours of the city, the city as a character? The buildings, streets? Apartments, shops, galleries? The baseball matches? The musical score, the songs?
4.The introduction to Gary and Brooke, at the baseball match, Gary with Johnny O. and their loud style, the food, the invitation to Brooke, her reaction?
5.The collage of their time together, comedy, romance, the courtship, the build-up to the wedding?
6.The couple at home, cooking for the family, the issue of Gary coming home with only three lemons, Brooke’s reaction, preparing the meal? The end of the meal, Gary and his being lazy, not helping with the wash-up? The crisis point in their relationship, the argument, Gary’s inability to understand what Brooke was talking about? Her plea for some kind of sensitivity?
7.The dinner, the two families meeting each other, the talk around the table, business, relationships, the argument about the pool table? The transition to the singing? Richard and his a capella group, getting everybody to join in, his own family, Gary’s family? Brooke urging him on? Gary and his inability to sing? His later casting aspersions on Richard and his sexual orientation?
8.The arguments, the follow-on from the meal, the disagreements? The walkouts?
9.Gary and his reliance on Johnny O. for friendship, advice, going to the matches, going to the bar? Johnny O. and the playing pool in the house, seeming to support Gary? The final visit to the bar, Johnny O. being very direct in saying Gary always did what he wanted and others had to fit in? The effect on Gary?
10.Gary, his anger at Brooke’s behaviour, wanting to leave, his petty behaviour, going to the bar? A slob at home? Good at his work, the tour guide, revving up his audience? Working with Dennis, Dennis wanting the books kept in a more accurate way? Going to talk things over with Lupus, the discussion about sex and girls, advice? Bringing in the pool table, playing with Johnny O? Drinking? The strip poker? Richard and his a capella group practising in Brooke’s room, his sending them out? His growing exasperation? The effect of Johnny O’? s truth, Brooke buying the tickets for the concert, his thinking she did not mean it, not going? The change and setting the dinner table, misunderstanding Brooke showing the client the apartment and the art? The sequence of the very direct talk between them and his confession of his inadequacies and Brooke’s weeping and response?
11.The character of Brooke, her work in the art gallery, her sensibilities, love of ballet, cooking, being hostess? In love with Gary? Her exasperation after her day at work, cooking, his not bringing the lemons? Her reaction during the meal, supporting her family? The weariness afterwards, his not helping with the wash-up? Her being revealed as a controller, her friendship with Addie, discussions with her? At work, Christopher and his eccentricities? Trying to help? Marilyn, the running of the gallery, Marilyn ordering her home, later offering her the trip and her job back? The two not moving out of the apartment, the separation, her own room, inviting her brother in to rehearse? Her going out, the different dates – and relying on Addie to bail her out? The client at the art gallery, showing him the apartment and the art? The discussions with Addie and her coming to realise some of the aspects of Gary’s behaviour? Getting the tickets, his not turning up, her weeping? The strong sequence of her explaining things to Gary? His apologies to her?
12.Marilyn, eccentric type, appearance, her portrait, running the gallery, dismissive of Christopher, allowing Brooke to go home, later painting the naked man, offering Brooke the trip, the job again?
13.Christopher, his eccentric help, dismissed?
14.Riggleman, friends with both, real estate, the sitting with them and discussing the separation? His advice about the selling?
15.Addie, her advice, the bowling sequence, the married couples and their teams, ousting Gary, wanting his shirt back, his demanding the wrist protection? The later episode with the charades and the bickering?
16.Dennis, wanting the business to prosper, Gary and his taking hold of things by the end, the books in order, the clients?
17.Parting, time passing, meeting in the street, their talk, their compliments to each other, possibilities for further meeting, the love, getting over the anger, the possible reconciliation in the future?
