Ever had a nasty fight with someone close to you? Ever think to turn it into a screenplay, make a movie about it, and turn it into a comedy? Logically, no. However, this is Hollywood, and someone tried.
Peyton Reed directs this supposed comedy, starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. Vaughn is never off, and Aniston always fits into her role as the adorable girlfriend/wife. What they’re given here is nothing more than a long-winded fight that plays out in such a miserable fashion, it’s impossible to pick out the jokes.
Actually, it’s almost awkward to watch. As their fight spills into a dinner scene, it almost seems like you’re one of the guests, exchanging glances with everyone else at the table looking for a way out of the room. Thanks to home media, you have that option, and it's recommended you do so.
Jon Favreau reunites on screen with Vaughn, improvising a fun role that seems like a slightly toned down version of their starring spots in the 2001 comedy Made. The Break-Up needs far more of these two, and far less of everyone else.
The tiring arguments between Aniston and Vaughn’s characters are grating enough, yet even when they’re not on screen, someone else is joining the battles. Aniston fights with her boss, Vaughn argues with friends, and it spirals downhill from there. This is just not entertainment.
Some small credit is deserved for pulling away from the usually painful romantic comedy formula, yet the attempts at drama fall flat because you’re unsure if you’re supposed to be laughing at the situation as in some dark comedies. The problem is the concept doesn’t work as entertainment. You can argue at home. The Break-Up has no idea what it’s trying to be, and neither does it’s audience. 
While it’s hardly going to be the HD DVD you’ll pull of your shelf to show off to friends, this is a well-rounded transfer. Colors are spectacular, and the compression is held at bay. A light layer of grain tends to show up against the background, though a nicely calibrated black level keeps this out of a non-discriminating view. The overall feel is soft, and sharper detail is lost. Still, it’s a decent effort for a film that doesn’t need a HD transfer in the first place. 
Break-Up surprises in the audio department too. There’s extensive surround work, especially effective during the opening scenes in Wrigley Field. There’s not much to work with in terms of bass and the film has no need for it. There’s always something nicely worked into all channels that’s not expected, and it’s a fun audio mix even if the film itself is a wasted effort.
Extras are strong and varied, a nice set up for those who want to see more. An alternate ending doesn’t do much for or against the film and a commentary by Reed and Vaughn explains the change. Eight deleted scenes feel redundant after watching the movie (there’s only so many way to show an argument), and combined with an extended dinner sequence, there’s 10 minutes of additional film content total.
Seven outtakes last 12 minutes and don’t offer much. A whopping 21 minutes of improvisational material between Vaughn and Favreau is fun to watch simply to see how many different ways their scenes could have played out.
Imperfect Harmony is the first featurette, a look at a minor character played by Jason Bateman. Included is his audition tape. The Making of the Break-Up is self explanatory, running 15 minutes. A nifty tour of Chicago is contained on a separate menu, looking at the sights featured in the film from the actor’s perspective as their shooting. It’s one of the best choices on the disc.
Two commentaries, the best led by Vaughn and Aniston, are better than listening to the film itself. The director goes solo on the second track. HD DVD exclusive extras include Universal’s U-Control, featuring little tidbits during the film in a picture-in-picture window.
Apparently, people enjoy watching their lives unfold on screen. The film more than doubled its money during its theatrical run. Somehow it managed to cost an estimated $52 million to produce, which is staggering for a movie that is almost entirely contained in a single room.
Matt Paprocki is the reviews editor for Digital Press, a classic video game website which he called home after his fanzine (Gaming Source) published its final issue. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for reasearch purposes. Really. He has also begun writing freelance for the Toledo Free Press.
