THE BREAK-UP — ** 1/2 — Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Favreau; rated PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief nudity, brief sex, ethnic slurs).
"The Break-Up" does get one thing right. The film gives ample screen time to Vince Vaughn, who was also, arguably, the best part of last year's smash hit "Wedding Crashers."
As for as the rest of "The Break-Up," it tries to re-create the caustic unpleasantness of such earlier, unromantic comedies as 1989's "The War of the Roses" (with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas) and 1981's "Modern Romance" (with Albert Brooks and Kathryn Harrold).
But "The Break-Up" lacks the go-for-the-throat bite that both those films had and also takes itself too seriously. A nearly fatal turn in its second half drags the entire thing to a screeching halt.
Still, there are some genuinely funny moments. But, obviously, your enjoyment of the film will depend on your tolerance for the fast-talking Vaughn and his quip-filled dialogue.
Vaughn stars as Gary Grobowski, a Chicago tour guide who's got it pretty good, living with his devoted girlfriend, Brooke Meyers (Aniston), in a Chicago condominium. Unfortunately, sports-nut Gary has been taking Brooke for granted, and she's finally had enough.
Brooke decides that the only way to get through to Gary is to break up with him. But then she refuses to leave the condo, and the two begin a nasty "custody battle" of sorts over the much-coveted space.
This plot provides plenty of material, but director Peyton Reed and first-time screenwriters Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender pack the film with characters and subplots that don't really go anywhere. They also try so hard to make the two main characters sympathetic that we grow tired of them . . . well, Aniston's whiny art-snob, anyway.
The filmmakers also waste a talent-heavy supporting cast that includes Judy Davis, Ann-Margret, Joey Lauren Adams, Justin Long, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jason Bateman and Peter Billingsley (little Ralphie from "A Christmas Story," all grown up).
Of that group, the only one besides Vaughn who really registers is his longtime pal Jon Favreau, a hoot as Gary's bartender buddy who's full of bad advice.
"The Break-Up" is rated PG-13 for occasional use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word), some crude sex talk and vulgar slang, comic violence (an assault and some video game violence), brief female nudity (as well as some nude artwork), some brief sexual contact and use of ethnic slurs. Running time: 105 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com