The Break-Up

Last updated
The Break-Up
The Break-Up poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Peyton Reed
Screenplay by Jeremy Garelick
Jay Lavender
Story by Vince Vaughn
Jeremy Garelick
Jay Lavender
Produced byVince Vaughn
Scott Stuber
StarringVince Vaughn
Jennifer Aniston
Joey Lauren Adams
Ann-Margret
Judy Davis
Vincent D'Onofrio
Jon Favreau
Cole Hauser
John Michael Higgins
Justin Long
CinematographyEric Alan Edwards
Edited by Dan Lebental
David Rosenbloom
Music by Jon Brion
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • June 2, 2006 (2006-06-02)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$52 million
Box office$205.7 million [1]

The Break-Up is a 2006 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Peyton Reed, and starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. It was written by Jay Lavender and Jeremy Garelick from a story by them and Vaughn, and produced by Universal Pictures.

Contents

Plot

Gary Grobowski and Brooke Meyers meet at Wrigley Field during a Chicago Cubs game and begin dating, eventually buying a condominium together. Gary works as a tour guide in a family business with his brothers, Lupus and Dennis. Brooke manages an art gallery owned by eccentric artist Marilyn Dean.

Their relationship comes to a head after the latest in an escalating series of arguments. Brooke, feeling unappreciated, criticizes Gary's perceived immaturity and unwillingness to work on improving their relationship. Gary is frustrated by Brooke's perceived controlling, perfectionistic attitude, and expresses his desire to have a little more independence, particularly when arriving home from work, wanting to unwind.

Brooke becomes irate when Gary fails to offer to help her clean up after a big dinner party at their home. Still frustrated from their unresolved earlier argument, she breaks up with him (despite still being in love with him). Brooke seeks relationship advice from her friend Addie, while Gary talks things over with his friend Johnny.

Since neither is willing to move out of their condo, they compromise by living as roommates; but each begins acting out to provoke the other in increasingly elaborate ways. Gary buys a pool table, litters the condo with food and trash, and even has a strip poker party with Lupus and a few women. Meanwhile, Brooke has Gary kicked off their "couples-only" bowling team and starts dating other men, attempting to make Gary jealous.

When their friend and realtor Mark sells the condo, Gary and Brooke are given two weeks' notice to move out. Brooke invites Gary to an Old 97's concert, hoping he will figure out that the gesture is meant to be her last-ditch attempt to salvage their relationship. Gary agrees to meet her but fails to understand Brooke's intentions and misses the concert—unwittingly breaking Brooke's heart. They fight one final time. Brooke says that Gary never matched her level of effort, and Gary retorts that Brooke was never clear about what she wanted. Later, Johnny points out that Gary has been selfish and emotionally distant from Brooke, dooming their relationship.

Brooke quits her job to travel in Europe. One evening, she brings a customer from the art gallery home. She finds the condo cleaned and Gary preparing a fancy dinner to win her back. He lays his heart on the line and promises to appreciate her more. For Brooke, it is too little too late, and she rejects the gesture. Gary seems to understand and kisses her before leaving.

Both move out of the condo. Gary takes a more active role in his business, while Brooke travels the world, eventually returning to Chicago. Sometime later, they meet again by chance on the street. After some awkward but friendly catching up, they part ways but look back to smile at each other.

Cast

Reception

Box office

The film grossed over $205 million worldwide, with a total of $118.7 million at the American box office.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 34% based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "This anti-romantic comedy lacks both laughs and insight, resulting in an odd and unsatisfying experience." [2] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 45 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [3] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale. [4]

Film critic Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail wrote, "Although possessed of a laudable desire not to be yet another run-of-the-mill, wacky-impediment—damned if the picture can figure out how to be an anti-romance comedy." [5]

Awards and nominations

AssociationCategoryRecipientResults
ASCAP Film and Television Music award Top Box Office Films Jon Brion
John O'Brien
Won
People's Choice Award Favorite Female Movie StarJennifer AnistonWon
Favorite On-Screen Match-UpJennifer Aniston
Vince Vaughn
Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie - Comedy Nominated
Choice Movie Actor - Comedy Vince VaughnNominated
Choice Movie Actress - Comedy Jennifer AnistonNominated
Choice Movie - ChemistryJennifer Aniston
Vince Vaughn
Won
Choice Movie - Breakout MaleJustin LongNominated

Soundtrack

The Break-Up
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedOctober 3, 2006
Genre Score  Various
Length41:43
Label Lakeshore Records
Jon Brion chronology
I Heart Huckabees
(2004)
The Break-Up
(2006)
Synecdoche, New York
(2008)

All tracks are written by Jon Brion excepted where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (by Dwight Yoakam)2:21
2."Who Loves You Baby" (by Telly Savalas)3:26
3."Story of My Life" (by Social Distortion)4:53
4."The Break-Up (Theme)"3:06
5."Timebomb" (by Old 97's)3:09
6."Boogie Nights" (by John Michael Higgins & His Symphony of Guys)2:20
7."Ay Cosita Linda" (by Perez Prado)2:25
8."26" (by Shawn Lee)2:07
9."It's Only a Paper Moon" (by Ella Fitzgerald)3:34
10."Mirror"0:23
11."Time" (Rich Jacques)4:10
12."La Vem a Baiana" (Jussara Silveira)4:02
13."I Can See Clearly Now" (Johnny Nash)2:46
14."Rainbow Connection" (by John Michael Higgins & His Symphony of Guys)3:01
Total length:41:43

Home media

The film was released on DVD on October 17, 2006. It has grossed $51 million in the US from DVD/home video rentals. It was later released on Blu-ray on June 3, 2014, and again on October 16, 2018.

A double-feature Blu-ray was released by Mill Creek Entertainment on October 5, 2021. The release contains the film and The Dilemma , which Vince Vaughn also starred in. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Object of My Affection</i> 1998 American film

The Object of My Affection is a 1998 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nicholas Hytner, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The film was adapted from novel of the same name by Stephen McCauley and the screenplay was written by Wendy Wasserstein. The story is centered around a pregnant New York social worker who develops romantic feelings for her gay new friend and decides to raise her child with him, and the complications that ensue.

<i>Swingers</i> (1996 film) 1996 American film

Swingers is a 1996 American buddy comedy film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living on the 'eastside' of Hollywood, California, during the 1990s swing revival. Written by Jon Favreau and directed by Doug Liman, the film starred Favreau alongside Vince Vaughn, featuring performances by Ron Livingston and Heather Graham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Vaughn</span> American actor (born 1970)

Vincent Anthony Vaughn is an American actor and producer. He is known for starring as a leading man in numerous comedy films during the late 1990s and 2000s. He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Saturn Award.

<i>Entourage</i> (American TV series) American comedy-drama television series

Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004, and ended on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons. The series was created and largely written by Doug Ellin and chronicles the acting career of Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from Queens, New York City, as they attempt to further their nascent careers in Los Angeles.

<i>Old School</i> (film) 2003 film by Todd Phillips

Old School is a 2003 American comedy film directed and co-written by Todd Phillips. The film stars Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell as depressed men in their thirties who seek to relive their college days by starting a fraternity, and the tribulations they encounter in doing so. The film was released on February 21, 2003, received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed $87 million worldwide.

<i>Be Cool</i> 2005 film by F. Gary Gray

Be Cool is a 2005 American crime comedy film based on Elmore Leonard's 1999 novel of the same name, which was the sequel to Leonard's 1990 novel Get Shorty. The movie is the sequel to the 1995 film adaptation of Get Shorty, and the second installment overall in the Get Shorty franchise. The plot follows mobster Chili Palmer's entrance into the music industry. This was Robert Pastorelli's final film in addition to Anna Nicole Smith's final feature film as Pastorelli died one year before its theatrical release.

<i>Blackball</i> (film) 2003 British comedy film by Mel Smith

Blackball is a 2003 British sports comedy film based on the game of lawn bowls. The screenplay was written by Tim Firth and the film was directed by Mel Smith. The film features James Cromwell as a master bowls player and Paul Kaye as a naturally talented player who have differing social backgrounds; they are placed together by Vince Vaughn to play for England against Australia. Its fictional plot is based on the bowls player Griff Sanders, who was also referred to as "The Bad Boy of Bowls".

<i>Fade to Black</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by Vernon Zimmerman

Fade to Black is a 1980 American psychological horror comedy film written and directed by Vernon Zimmerman, and starring Dennis Christopher, Eve Brent and Linda Kerridge. It also features Mickey Rourke and Peter Horton in minor roles. The plot follows a shy and lonely cinephile who embarks on a killing spree against his oppressors while impersonating classic film characters.

Veep is an American political satire comedy television series that aired on HBO from April 22, 2012, to May 12, 2019. The series was created by Armando Iannucci. The protagonist of Veep is Selina Meyer, a fictional Vice President of the United States. The series follows Meyer and her team as they attempt to make their mark and leave a legacy but often instead become mired in day-to-day political games.

<i>Mr. Jealousy</i> 1997 American film

Mr. Jealousy is a 1997 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Eric Stoltz and Annabella Sciorra.

<i>Four Christmases</i> 2008 American Christmas comedy film

Four Christmases is a 2008 American Christmas comedy-drama film starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon with Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek in supporting roles. The film is director Seth Gordon's first studio feature film. It tells the story of a couple who must travel to four family parties after their vacation plans get canceled due to dense fog. The film was produced by New Line Cinema and Spyglass Entertainment and released by Warner Bros. Pictures on November 26, 2008.

<i>Love Happens</i> (2009 film) 2009 film by Brandon Camp

Love Happens is a 2009 American romantic drama film written by Mike Thompson and Brandon Camp, directed by Camp, and starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston. The story follows a therapist and self-help author being enamored by a florist. It was released on September 18, 2009 by Universal Pictures. Love Happens garnered negative reviews from critics.

<i>The Locusts</i> (film) 1997 American film

The Locusts is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by John Patrick Kelley and starring Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Davies, Kate Capshaw, Paul Rudd, and Ashley Judd. The score was composed by Carter Burwell.

<i>The Bounty Hunter</i> (2010 film) 2010 United States"`UNIQ--ref-00000002-QINU`" film

The Bounty Hunter is a 2010 American romantic action comedy directed by Andy Tennant, starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. The story centers on a bounty hunter hired to retrieve his ex-wife, who has skipped bail. The film was released in the United States on March 19, 2010. The film received negative reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing $136.3 million against a production budget of $40–45 million.

<i>The Dilemma</i> 2011 film by Ron Howard

The Dilemma is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Ron Howard, written by Allan Loeb and starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James. The film follows savvy businessman Ronny (Vaughn) and genius engineer Nick (James), who are best friends and partners in an auto design firm. They are pursuing a project to make their firm famous. Ronny sees Nick's wife Geneva kissing another man. Ronny seeks out answers and has to figure out how to tell Nick about what he saw while working with him to complete their critical presentation.

<i>Term Life</i> 2016 film by Peter Billingsley

Term Life is a 2016 American action drama film based on the graphic novel of the same name. It is directed by Peter Billingsley from a screenplay by A.J. Lieberman. The film stars Vince Vaughn, who also produces the film, Hailee Steinfeld, Jonathan Banks, Mike Epps, Jordi Molla, Shea Whigham, William Levy, Taraji P. Henson, Annabeth Gish, and Terrence Howard. The film was released on April 29, 2016, in a limited release and through video on demand by Focus World. The film received negative reviews.

<i>Mistress America</i> 2015 film by Noah Baumbach

Mistress America is a 2015 American comedy film directed by Noah Baumbach. It was written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, who stars alongside Lola Kirke. The film was released on August 14, 2015, by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

<i>Our Souls at Night</i> 2017 film by Ritesh Batra

Our Souls at Night is a 2017 American romantic drama film directed by Ritesh Batra and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. It is based on the novel of the same name by Kent Haruf. The film stars Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Judy Greer. It had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2017. It was released on September 29, 2017 by Netflix. It marked the fourth collaboration between Fonda and Redford, having previously starred in The Chase, Barefoot in the Park, and The Electric Horseman although they were in five films together. Redford appeared as an uncredited basketball player in Tall Story, starring Fonda and Anthony Perkins.

<i>The Opening Act</i> 2020 American comedy film

The Opening Act is a 2020 American comedy film written and directed by Steve Byrne, in his directorial debut. It stars Jimmy O. Yang, Alex Moffat, Cedric the Entertainer, Neal Brennan, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Jermaine Fowler, Ken Jeong, Russell Peters, and Debby Ryan.

<i>Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons</i> 2020 animated film

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons is an American animated web series that premiered on January 6, 2020. Initially, the series was planned as a 12-episode run on CW Seed. However, after the first episode aired, these plans were altered, and the series was repurposed into a direct-to-video animated film titled Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie. The film was released digitally on August 4, 2020, followed by a Blu-ray release on August 18, 2020. Despite the transition to film, a second episode of the original web series was unexpectedly released on November 24, 2020, nearly ten months after the first.

References

  1. "The Break-Up (2006) - Financial Information". The-numbers.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  2. "The Break-Up". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  3. "The Break-Up Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  4. "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.
  5. Groen, Rick (June 1, 2006). "The Break-Up". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  6. "Vince Vaughn Double Feature - Blu-ray". Mill Creek Entertainment. Retrieved September 25, 2021.