The Break-Up was released in the United States on June 2, 2006, by Universal Pictures. It received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who criticized its inconsistent tone but praised the chemistry between Vaughn and Aniston. Despite the reviews, the film was a commercial success, grossing approximately $205 million worldwide against a production budget of $52 million.
Plot
Gary Grobowski and Brooke Meyers meet at Wrigley Field during a Chicago Cubs game and begin a relationship, eventually purchasing a condominium together. Gary works as a tour guide for a family-owned business operated with his brothers, Lupus and Dennis, while Brooke manages an art gallery owned by eccentric artist Marilyn Dean.
Tensions in their relationship escalate over time. Brooke, feeling unappreciated, criticizes Gary for his perceived immaturity and unwillingness to address their issues. Gary, in turn, expresses frustration with Brooke's controlling and perfectionistic behavior, desiring more independence after work. The conflict culminates when Gary fails to offer assistance in cleaning up after a dinner party. Feeling neglected, Brooke ends the relationship despite still harboring feelings for him. Brooke seeks advice from her friend Addie, while Gary confides in his friend Johnny.
Unable to agree on who should vacate the condominium, they continue living together as roommates, each engaging in increasingly provocative behavior to irritate the other. Gary purchases a pool table, leaves food and trash around the condo, and hosts a strip poker party. Brooke retaliates by removing Gary from their couples-only bowling team and dating other men in an attempt to provoke jealousy.
After their friend and realtor Mark successfully sells the condominium, Gary and Brooke are given two weeks' notice to vacate. Brooke invites Gary to attend a concert by the Old 97's, intending it as a final opportunity to reconcile. Gary fails to recognize the significance of the gesture and misses the event, landing Brooke in tears and a broken heart. She accuses him of not appreciating her efforts, while Gary counters that she was unclear about her expectations. Johnny later points out to Gary that his selfish and emotionally distant behavior contributed to the collapse of their relationship.
Brooke subsequently resigns from her position at the art gallery. Returning home, she finds Gary preparing a formal dinner at the condominium in an attempt to reconcile. Gary expresses remorse and pledges to be more appreciative, but Brooke, though touched by the gesture, declines, feeling it is too late to repair the relationship.
Following their move from the condominium, Gary takes a more active role in managing the family business, while Brooke travels in Europe for an extended time before ultimately returning to Chicago. Some time later, Brooke and Gary encounter each other by chance on the street, exchange pleasantries, and discuss getting together soon to catch up. They part with a smile.
The Break-Up grossed approximately $205 million worldwide, including $118.7 million in the United States and Canada and $86.1 million in other territories. It debuted at number one at the North American box office, earning $39.1 million during its opening weekend.[2]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Break-Up holds 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."[3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[4] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.[5]
Critical reception was mixed, with several reviewers praising the performances but criticizing the tone and narrative direction. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, noting that while Vaughn and Aniston were convincing as a quarreling couple, the film struggled to balance comedy with its more serious moments.[6]Manohla Dargis of The New York Times described the film as "a sour, dispiriting affair," faulting it for its uneven shifts between humor and bitterness.[7] In Slate, Dana Stevens found the premise promising but argued that the film ultimately felt "halfhearted" and lacked emotional payoff.[8]Common Sense Media similarly noted that while the stars exhibited natural chemistry, the film offered "a depressing look at adult relationships" rather than a satisfying romantic comedy.[9]
Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail wrote that The Break-Up "possessed a laudable desire not to be yet another run-of-the-mill, wacky-impediment romance—damned if the picture can figure out how to be an anti-romance comedy."[10]James Berardinelli of ReelViews criticized the film’s uneven tone, commenting that "for a movie marketed as a comedy, it offers surprisingly few laughs."[11]Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly graded it a C and described it as "a movie with the courage of its lack of conviction," struggling to commit either to romance or cynicism.[12]IGN’s review praised the film’s ambition to portray a realistic breakup but found the execution "frustratingly uneven."[13]
In a retrospective piece for The Guardian, Scott Jordan Harris argued that The Break-Up has gained appreciation over time as a "rare mainstream film willing to acknowledge that not all relationships are meant to last."[14]
The Break-Up was released on DVD on October 17, 2006, and grossed approximately $51 million in the United States from DVD and home video rentals. The film was later released on Blu-ray on June 3, 2014, and again on October 16, 2018. A double-feature Blu-ray, containing The Break-Up and The Dilemma (2011), another film starring Vince Vaughn, was released by Mill Creek Entertainment on October 5, 2021.[17]
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