The Break-Up - PG-13

Mean-spirited comedy pushes edge for teens.

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Rating: PG-13 for for sexual content, some nudity and language. Studio: Universal Pictures Directed By: Peyton Reed Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn Running Time: 106 minutes Release Date: 06/02/2006 Genre: Comedy

Common Sense Note

Parents should know the movie is premised on ugly, angry fighting between exes still sharing a condo, with several scenes that show real pain. Brooke has her pubic area waxed and parades the result in front of her ex (you see her naked back and legs; other body parts are obscured by objects in frame); in turn, Gary hires strippers for a poker game. Characters call each other names and cruelly make fun of each other and their families (this encompasses jokes about homosexuality, promiscuity, and violence/murder). It also features frequent uses of profanity (including at least one f-word).

Families can talk about the difficulties of breaking up, whether with friends or romantic partners. How can you manage this without being mean to your ex? What kinds of bad advice do both Brooke and Gary get from their friends, and how might they behave in more mature, self-respecting ways?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Cynthia Fuchs

Teens love Vince Vaughn from last summer's Wedding Crashers, but that movie was rated R. This one is close without being nearly as funny. Careening from too-cute to mean-spirited, THE BREAK-UP recycles romantic comedy clichés without energy or inspiration.

The film begins with the awkward, brief meeting of the couple, art gallery manager Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) attends with another date and Chicago tour bus guide Gary (Vince Vaughn) assaults her with a verbal barrage to demonstrate his ostensible wit. "You're crazy," she blushes, and so, apparently, she is smitten. Their romance is then reduced to a photo montage -- kissing in the rain, on Christmas, in bed, bowling and partying -- during the opening credits sequence. When this is over, so is the relationship.

The film, as the title suggests, showcases their break-up, complicated by the fact that they own a gorgeous condo together. Neither will leave the space, and so they vie for dominance, each hitting at the other's weak points (her flamboyantly gay-seeming brother [John Michael Higgins], his inability to communicate) in order to inflict punishment. The central conflict is wholly familiar: She comes from moderate money and prefers to keep her home perfectly appointed; he's working class, in business with his tousled brothers (Vincent D'Onofrio and Cole Hauser), and prefers playing violent video games to attending to his girlfriend's emotional needs.

This basic set-up is needlessly underscored by the requisite friends and advisors. She turns to her employer, the self-loving gallery owner/artist Marilyn Dean (Judy Davis), and her best friend, doting mother of two Maddie (Joey Lauren Adams); he turns to his brothers and his best friend, macho-posing bartender Johnny O (Jon Favreau). Their advice ranges from inspiring jealousy to threats concerning property. They divide up space in the condo: He buys a pool table, plays loud rock, and invites his friends over for cigars and strip poker; she plays Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" and shows off her newly waxed crotch area.

When he worries that she might like one of her clients (appealingly played by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady), Gary hires strippers, an episode that leaves him looking glum rather than happy, and leaves Brooke looking utterly devastated.

While Gary reels off Vaughn's patented patter -- fast, aggressive, arrogant as a means to "hide" insecurity -- Brooke frequently looks sad and defeated. The couple seems so obviously mismatched that you can't help but wonder what they liked about each other to begin with. And the onslaught of insults and bad behaviors is so intense, that by the time it's over, you're just hoping it really is over.

Families who enjoy this movie will also like Wedding Crashers (with Vaughn) and Along Came Polly (with Aniston); or they might prefer classic battling exes' romances, including His Girl Friday (1940) and Adam's Rib (1949).

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Many sexual references (especially by Gary, who describes sexual activity and body parts, such as "d--k"); men and women play strip poker (women get down to underwear); Brooke has her pubic area waxed (this scene shows her grimace and exclamation), then walks naked through apartment (you see her upper body and legs, her breasts and crotch blocked by objects in frame); Mary hires a male model whose naked back and butt is visible as she paints.
Violence Gary plays violent video games; his friend makes jokes about hiring hitmen. Brooke's brother beats up Gary.
Language Pushing the edge for PG-13: Language includes one f-word, plus frequent uses (10-15 or more) of "s--t" and other profanity.
Message
	Social Behavior After the break-up, exes use cruel tactics to "get even," including visible dates to inspire jealousy, mishandling of property, and nasty accusations during arguments.
	Commercialism Visible junk food and beer brands (Lays and other chips, Budweiser, fast food wrappers).
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Cigar-smoking and drinking (beer, liquor, wine).