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Although it looks unlikely that
these two persons could become a couple, they are immediately attracted to each other upon meeting at a baseball game.
Brooke Meyers (Jennifer Aniston), meticulous and exacting, works as an assistant at the upscale Marilyn Dean Art Gallery. Gary Grobowski (Vince Vaughn) and his brothers own and run a bus company, where he acts as the tour guide. They lose no time in getting together and begin a live-in relationship. Things appear to be going along fine for them until the night they are to have their dozen or so family members over for supper in their condo unit, when the contrary comes to light. Brooke is busy putting the family dinner together that evening when Gary comes in from work. He decides to relax on the living room couch and watch some baseball on television. Although upset by his action she manages, despite the tension in the air, to carry on with the dinner until the departure of the guests. Then she explodes reproaching him for his thoughtless behavior and self-centered interests. He calls her a nag, exacting and insists on things her way. She cuts in and tells him that she no longer wants their relationship to continue.
The movie concentrates on the complexities of the couple's break-up.
The motives of the scenes that Brooke and Gary create—whether meant to reject or get the attention of the partner—are not sufficiently clear. Being a romantic comedy, more funny situations are looked forward to. Instead, they are many more dramatic episodes which sometimes turn overly serious. Despite this, Jennifer Aniston as Brooke is able to become genuinely upset or angry when called for. As an actress in movies she has gained the attention of the audience starting with her role in
The Break-up. The ensemble cast as family members managed to produce a few comic moments.
The movie gives a glaring contrast in the characters of Brooke and Gary, which inevitably causes
their split from each other.
Faced with the new situation, it seems they are not ready to make the final break by moving out, apparently still feeling something for each other. Should they make up or reconcile, could they make a go of a life together? When two persons' traits and weaknesses are in stark contrast, especially when these are ingrained or habituated, there would normally be a slim chance for a good life together. CINEMA offers hope not given by the movie with its hanging ending: couples' differences could be overcome with determination and prayer and grace, patience, encouragement, the practice of corresponding good habits, among others. Because of the live-in situation, objectionable language, some nudity and sexual issues, some degree of maturity is necessary for understanding the film content.
(Date Reviewed: 28 July 2006)
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