“The Break-Up”
Prior to adding The Break-Up to my Netflix queue, I was warned by my co-workers that I should not expect a comedy, so I didn’t. I was pleasantly surprised by the funny moments, but the more prolific scenes depicting arguing and strife did not catch me off guard.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie in the same way that I enjoy a sad book about a topic that resonates with me, like the three-year-old relationship. The experience wasn’t necessarily fun, but it was interesting and thought-provoking. Although I thought that Jennifer Aniston (Brooke) and Vince Vaughn (Gary) both played types rather than actual people (she as the manipulative, wounded girlfriend and he as the insensitive, oblivious bachelor), their interactions tugged at the heartstrings in several scenes.
The scene that most affected me occurred toward the end of the movie, after Brooke and Gary had experienced such a large rift between them. In a gesture that I interpreted as an attempt to demonstrate the type of affection she desired, Brooke invited Gary to a concert for which she had already bought tickets, despite the fact that they were uncomfortable and hostile with each other in other venues. She left his ticket at Will Call, bought drinks for both of them, and waited at their seats. After a time, it becomes clear that Gary is not showing, and Brooke is left to walk home alone and ends up crying in her bedroom, when Gary finds her. Due to her past behavior (throwing his things around, kicking him off the bowling team, and trying to find guys to date), he simply thought that the concert wasn’t a big deal to her. The gaping miscommunication was really painful to watch, but I still appreciated the honesty that sometimes, thoughtful gestures don’t always work out. In a normal romantic movie, Gary would have come strolling through the concert during a swell of concert music, but this movie wasn’t a comedy.
The movie also highlighted the potential impact of a legal commitment between a couple in that Brooke and Gary co-signed on a mortgage for a Chicago condo. In some ways, they were more committed to their house than to each other because the purchase involved their time and money. During a scene with their friend and realtor, Brooke and Gary argued about who put more time and energy into improving their condo. Gary claims that he invested more sweat equity, but Brooke counters that his work is shoddy; Gary complains that Brooke’s contributions were nothing more than sponge-painting, but she cites a strong increase in aesthetic value. Their workmanship on the condo serves as a metaphor for their different styles of working on their crumbling relationship. Appropriately, the last scene of Brooke and Gary together takes place in their empty condo, when they’ve packed up to move and split the selling cost. Like other couples who take the real-estate plunge, the break-up of their relationship had economic as well as emotional toll.
- - -
For the latest information on Jennifer Aniston, check out the updates at Jennifer Aniston Watch!
The Break-Up, Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, breaking up, couples, dating
For more, subcribe to LR.com’s feed
Leave a Reply