Breaking the mold

If you're headed to the theatre this weekend expecting "The Break-Up" to be the next "Wedding Crashers," then turn back. The same goes for anyone expecting this movie to be another guy meets girl, guy woos girl, girl hesitates, magical kiss and then bam "THE END." It just ain't happening folks. \nGary (Vince Vaughn) goes to see the Chicago Cubs one sunny day and just down the aisle sits the equally bright Brooke (Jennifer Aniston). He's single, she's not; she's hot, he's not. Yet somehow Gary just manages to put enough charm into a good ol' ballpark dog and convince her he's more fun than the goofy guy at her side. Thanks to the power of photography we don't need to see all the months poured into courtship but rather plenty of pictures of one happy couple. \nHe gives Chicago double-decker bus tours; she sells "high-class" art pieces. He loves staying in to play video games; she loves ballet and going out on the town. And after all this time together, things just aren't working anymore between them. \nWhat "The Break-Up" clearly sets out to be, and succeeds at being, is the anti-romantic comedy. These people were in love one time -- now they have shouting matches that could give Larry David and the rest of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" a run for their money. We're not supposed to see chemistry and intimacy.\nVince Vaughn is his usual sarcastic self and can do no wrong while Jennifer Aniston has clearly come a long way from her "Friends" roots. The former couple play off each other well. They might not be able to love one another anymore but they sure as hell can take potshots with equal doses of acid and humor. \nIf there was anything I needed to be assured of and was confirmed in "Break-Up" is not that Vaughn/Aniston have chemistry together -- it was the chemistry between Vaughn and Jon Favreau. Everyone whose seen "Swingers" and "Made" knows how well these guys work together. Having not shared a film since 2001, these conversational moments are comedic gold sure to have long-time fans cracking up. \nWhere the movie ends up faltering is all the other characters placed around our troubled couple. Joey Lauren Adams is annoying as ever -- reminding me why I hate "Chasing Amy" so much. "Arrested Development" extraordinaire Jason Bateman gets barely enough time to even make jokes worth remembering while the likes of Judy David and Justin Long are so overdone in their roles that one can only shake their head in annoyance. I almost forgot- Vincent D'Onofrio makes an appearance too -- an actor so awesome he's reduced to just a cameo peppered throughout the movie. \nPerhaps were the supporting cast given stronger parts (they're already strong enough actors), then "Break-Up" would be more solid. Instead Vaughn and Aniston must carry the weight on their shoulders and by the end of it all, they just seem burned out. Even with old pal Favreau, Vaughn still seems to be scrambling for someone to lean on. We'll just have to see how wedding crashing buddy Owen Wilson fairs later this summer in his solo outing, "You, Me and Dupree"