Pajiba

Someone save me from the inevitability that is taking my girlfriend to see this tonight in lieu of sitting at my apartment and sorting through my mismatched-socks bin.

"Aniston's vertebrae may give you the same shockingly sick sensation you had when Kirsten Dunst exposed her cottage cheese thighs in Bring it On."

Seriously, Rowles, what the fuck?

I love Pajiba and always love your reviews, but I thought this review was really male-centric. Newsflash for you: MEN worship Vince Vaughn, not women. I used to think he was gorgeous, I'll admit. I never thought he was funny, but that's another story. Now, I think he's a pathetic, aging frat boy who has roles only because similar dudes in Hollywood still think he's "money."

The Lilith Fair comment was also a total cheap shot - and that's not just because I went to Smith!

Typical Smithee. No sense of humor. We Wellesleyans still appreciate you, Rowles! And Vince Vaughn, too. Yum.

Bring it, Samantha T!!!

Actually, the Smith comment made me chuckle because I went to Vassar.....

And sadly, I also remember that Diffrent Strokes episode. Thanks for the memories, Dustin!

Steph: typical Wellesleyan - it's SmithIe, damn it!

To this day, Money Pit strikes a chord. Fortunately, now I know that The Break Up will not. Go get yourself some strange vertebrae indeed. Jennifer should go get herself some strange cheesecake. Although, I must say, it had to be terrible to shoot this film while leafing through countless US Weeklies featuring Brad and Angela on your breaks. Not to mention the tasteless W photo spread. Ugh.

Samantha: Only a SmithIe would make the effort to correct me.

Show me your smile chinneston!

Jennifer Aniston has no talent as actress and will never win an oscar. She is ugly and has an oddly shape chin.

Hey Pajiba,

Thanks for recognizing Vince, he's always been a favorite of mine. It kind of sneaks up on you, because you'd never think to put him among the best comic actors today, but then BAM look at what he's been in.

Swingers
Old School
Dodgeball
Wedding Crashers

And he's funny not only in main roles, but in lesser roles as well. I thought he was awesome in Anchorman, Starsky & Hutch, Mr. and Ms. Smith, etc.

Anyway, enough fan-boy ranting from me. But I certainly won't count this one against him.

What happened to Aniston? She was terrific in The Good Girl. (Seriously, she was; rent it if you don't believe me.) But since then her films have been garbage: What About Polly, Derailed, Rumor Has It, Friends With Money--and wasn't there another one?

And oh my God yes, the woman needs feedin'--stat.

Personally, I was tired of Vaughn's schtick by Wedding Crashers. And he has reached the point where it would be classified as a schtick, and once it reaches that point all humor is wasted. I think it would have been better if they would have checked his rambling a tad bit. But this movie is here for one purpose and we all had to know it was coming. It seems that Hollywood is of the opinion that every time there is a big celebrity relationship, the fans absolutely must want to pay to see them teamed up in a movie together. Such inspired thinking has brought us such blockbusters as Gigli, Bounce and Far and Away. And when getting a supposedly hot couple together is more important to the film makers than making a decent film, we're the ones who have to suffer. Well, not WE, exactly. I'm not stupid enough to pay for this crap.

Vince is cool he's a character, but a loser at picking girls. He can get better than chinneston she is using him to make herself look like she not hurt or desperate. She's hiding behind vince. Rachel Green needs to move on her movies suck.

"Aniston's vertebrae may give you the same shockingly sick sensation you had when Kirsten Dunst exposed her cottage cheese thighs in Bring it On."

Seriously, Rowles, that's fucking true!

I love Pajiba and always love your reviews, and this review has lived up to that reputation. Newsflash for you, Samantha-doll: WOMEN also worship Vinve Vaughn, not just men. I STILL think he's gorgeous, I'll admit. I always thought he was funny, because I have a sense of humor. Now, I think he should just keep making more Swingers and more Wedding Crashers, 'cause they're "money."

THe Lilith Fair comment was also a totally hilarious observation - and that ABSOLUTELY because I went to Smith!

Seriously, honey, get a grip. Not everything is Feminism 101.

Awesome review as always, but did you have to invoke the name combination. That one made me cringe.

Hey Altan, they supposedly started dating on the set of this movie. It wasn't some studio exec's idea to make a movie because they were dating.

mix-in-some-carbsiston needs to lay off the romantic comedies for awhile and go the good girl route, no mas kevin costner either, one strike against her for that, bad rachel, bad. vince vaughn needs sleep. sleep good..sleep good for the eyes...sleep help brain mull over which part he can try to fit obnoxious friend fatvreau in.

on another note: bateman is sweet. all hail bateman.

Well I agree you couldn't really call what Vince Vaughn does ACTING anymore. He just seems lazy to me. Maybe it's the bloated unshaven look he has, or the ever-deepening puffy circles under his eyes, but his roles always feel like he chugged a few martinis before coming to work.

It's like he's photocopied the character he created in Swingers so many times now that you can't really read it anymore, but it still has a similar feel. Mix in a little psycho 'Clay Pigeons' glaring and voila.

And to Rory: Okay, Favreau may not have any place in most movies anymore, but as a director he is pretty great. Elf was genius.

Q: How many smith girls does it take to change a lightbulb?"
A: It's "womyn". And that's not funny.

karina said (in reference to Vaughn) "Maybe it's the bloated unshaven look he has, or the ever-deepening puffy circles under his eyes..."

All I can think of there is the preview for "People Who Look Like They Never Sleep" starring Vince Vaughn and Susan Sarandon (from the family guy movie). Hehehe.

It appears that Vince Vaughn's style of acting/humor is on the downfall, and hopefully this movie will be what buries him deep into the ground. His only good performance was in Anchorman. Dorothy Mantooth is a SAINT
Also, why does he have to look so similar to Johnny Knoxville, someone who is equally untalented and annoying?

"Newsflash for you: MEN worship Vince Vaughn, not women."

Au contraire. If I tried to describe in this space how deeply and passionately I adore Vince Vaughn, you'd think you wandered into a Bronte novel. Or a bodice-ripper.

He looks like he would derive a great deal of joy leaving welts on my ass. Sigh. Holy shit. I am so hot for him, it's sick.

Dustin's right - all he has to do is open his mouth and the panties melt right off. Just THINKING of him opening his mouth and my panties melt off.

He was hot in Swingers, of course, but when he started getting me moist in the lady region was right around Dodge Ball. Or perhaps Anchorman.

I dunno, but he's funny and he's hot and it's just obscene and unfair.

What happened to Aniston? She was terrific in The Good Girl. (Seriously, she was; rent it if you don't believe me.)

I'm probably the only person on the planet that watched The Good Girl and thought she was as one-note as she is in most of her movies. I'm still scratching my head over all of the critical acclaim she got over that role. Must have been because it was considered an indie film.

Anyhoo, I figured The Break-Up would be crap. I love Vince Vaughn, but he never does well acting primarily opposite women, IMO. Although I think he's incredibly funny, I have to agree with others who see no physical appeal. I think karina's physical description of him is spot on. I want to find him attractive - really, I do. Just can't get there. Then again, I happen to think Luke Wilson is the more attractive brother, and Owen is kinda fug. So, clearly, I'm in the minority among the women who don't find the aforementioned attractive these days.

Daphne - I'm with you on Wilson v. Wilson, and I'm okay with you not getting the VV thing.

MORE FOR ME

Aniston's vertebrae may give you the same shockingly sick sensation you had when Kirsten Dunst exposed her cottage cheese thighs in Bring it On.

I have absolutely no recollection of that in Bring it On, but it has been a few years. I do find it funny, though, that one of those "Ew, gross!" moments is for a woman being too thin, and the other is for a woman not being thin enough. Kind of ironic. Sorry, boys; we can't all look like Angelina Jolie. (Aniston should invest in a few sandwiches though - on that we can at least agree.)

As for the movie - yeah, this is pretty much what I was expecting. I may be forced to watch it with a few girl friends when it comes out on DVD, and that's fine, but there's no way in hell I'm paying money to see it in the theater. Aniston really needs to start being more choosy with what roles she takes - the sympathy she got post-breakup is going to dry up awfully fast if she keeps making mediocre movies. She should start taking advantage of the public goodwill to make one or two really great films, not a bunch of weak rom-coms.

As for Vaughn...eh. I'm pretty ambivalent about him. He's talented, I'll give him that, and I did love him in both Swingers and Wedding Crashers, but he's starting to border on shtick territory. Vince, no! You're way better than that.

Then again, I happen to think Luke Wilson is the more attractive brother, and Owen is kinda fug. So, clearly, I'm in the minority among the women who don't find the aforementioned attractive these days.

Right On!!!!! And thanks Pajiba for the heads up, though, I will probaly still drag my husband to see it. Simply because I think Vince Vaughn is SO funny.

what the hell is wrong with all of you? vince vaughn is an incredible actor - his vocal delivery of any given word is priceless - he speaks like the lead singer of metallica sings - (some of you will get that) Oh and he wets panties, PLENTY OF PANTIES!

I just recieved an email from my local indie theater saying that they had decided to headline The Break Up on their screens because the owners' 22 year-old son saw it and deemed it "cute". I cannot begin to express how horrified I am that legitimate film is being bounced off the screen in order to give the public ample opportunity to count Jennifer Aniston's spinal humps.

As soon as I saw the first trailer for this, with the "gay" brother singing "Owner of a Lonely Heart", I was sold. No way in hell was I seeing this dreck.

And then I heard Jason Bateman was in it, and I started to sway a little, but then I saw Jennifer Aniston's goddamn spine, and , no thank you.

I Vince-Vaughned myself out last night at work, watched Wedding Crashers (So goddamn funny) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith (See, Brad? Women can be gorgeous. Angelina eats.), and he is one of my favorite comedic actors, but watching him in a movie like this would just.. hurt.

I'm with Daphne on Vaughn: I think he's hilarious, but I don't see the physical appeal.

On another note entirely: Sleater-Kinney? I don't care if it's not PC, I couldn't help but laugh.

There's non-PC humor, and there's non-PC attitudes. Why take umbrage at the cosmetic crap? It only takes the focus from the genuine problems in the world, and eventually weakens your case in the eyes of the very people you're trying to change or convince.

Also, who the hell knew that many women from Smith and my school read and commented on Pajiba regularly? Although I suppose it does prove it's practically impossible to get W & S women in a room without some level of bickering.

I know my opinion doesn't count for shit, but I gotta disagree. Although I'm not saying that Vince and Jen are the most top-notch actors, some scenes were powerful enough to warrant some nervous stairs and deep breaths between my boyfriend and I. Not everyone will be entertained by it, but for those who are having troubles in their relationship, or are in any type of relationship currently, you will not be disappointed.

I have to go with Samantha on this one: Vince Vaughn's sex appeal is inversely proportionate to his eye baggage, and even at his youngest, sveltest, hippest, he was at BEST a good supporting player.

Aniston -- what a boondoggle, man. She's a good actress, but she can't pick scripts for shit. I skip it ALL now and wait for the DVD -- even the ones I suspect might be good, like Friends with Money. The disappointment of Derailed sealed it for me.

"Mildly enjoyable" is how I'd classify most of her oeuvre, and that just ain't worth the full price of a ticket. But at least she hasn't reached Eric Stoltzian depths of unwatchability.

Stoltz -- now THERE'S a giant red blinking Warning sign atop any DVD you happen to espy in the rental aisles... Seriously, I see his name or face on a box, I fucking RUN. That trifecta osf Killing Zoe, Bodies, Rest & Motion and Naked in New York -- dear god, and then Sleep with Me -- oh, christ, stop him before he acts again.

Kind of got off subject there...

It's amazing the number of people who need a life. Yeah, I know, I'm also reading the comments.

Vince is hot because there's just so MUCH of him (6'5", I think). I could climb him like a jungle gym. Loved that scene in "Old School" where he's doing pull-ups with a cigarette in his mouth. Sure, his physique is far from buff, but what a hunk.Looks like he'd be a good kisser, too.

And you know what amazes me? People who have the unmitigated gall to post a comment like Larry's on a blog. Pot....meet kettle. If you feel that way, you have a choice....don't read the comments or don't access the website at all because it's clear what it's about. So surreptitiously trying to insult other people while really insulting yourself really makes you look like an ass, not the others who have commented. Have a great evening!

Maybe it's just me, but Vince Vaughn has always creeped me out. He seems like he'd secretly be a serial killer, or maybe a serial rapist.
Aniston looks like a humorless walking corpse. I never watched Friends, but I'm pretty sure that in most every movie she's been in, she's been Rachel.

Aniston is a no talent "Hair "Actress. "Friends" was a insipid, crap show that ran w-a-y too long & the semi good looking but talentless actors were w-a-y overpaid. She married above her & WHAM~~ Came out with all sorts of crap , mediocore movies! A Headliner!? HEll NO , See her name in those shiny light & it just screams CRAP MOVIE starring a donkey faced, no-talent, cum sponge! Christ! Who in H~Wood really thinks she's a top notch actress & can carry 1.5+ hr.s of luke warm, sub- par writing & inject "something " into it to make it shine & all of us poor average schmucks forget our routine everyday unglamorous lives & bath in her wonderous "talent" & superstardom?? HUH??? NO ONE
Her career is plummeting as we speak & I for one am so F*** happy! Let's see the lost 1/2 hr. "Friends" episode where she looses a tampon up herself & All her friends finger her to help get it out! About as talented as P. Hilton in a grainy blow job video!!!

I agree with Samantha! You make fun of one woman for being too skinny but then make fun of another woman for being too fat, but Kirsten Dunst has never been fat! What is she, a size 6, tops? All you men are the same, you all want women to look perfect like models but you think it's okay to for your sorry loser selves to look like a walking pork rind, like Vince-beer-gut-baggy-eyed-puffy-faced-bloated-fish-looking-Vaughn! No wonder women turn gay--the alternative (YEAH, PUN INTENDED!) is dealing with shallow, lame jerks who are nothing but pigs and slaves to their own penises! You can all go to bed with your airbrushed copies of Victoria's Secret and DREAM that anyone who even remotely looked like that would have anything to do with your fat, lazy, ugly, beer-gutted selves! OINK OINK!

While I'm the first to admit (and rant) that there are a number of societal problems as regards to gender, it's not fair to say "all you men are the same," either.

Sure, it's frustrating when some guys hold themselves to a low standard of physical attractiveness (whatever you're basing that standard on) while magazine covers hold women up to impossibly narrow (and, in my opinion, unhealthy) standards of beauty, but not every guyd does it. And as a Wellesley woman, well, gee, it's not like I don't constantly sexually objectify men.

You could of course counter that statement by pointing out that it's not like we have thousands of years of human history in which men were consistently treated as second-class citizens with little societal worth beyond reproductive value, but if we're trying to move beyond that - if we're trying to help women, if we're arguing that gender isn't any kind of qualifier as regards to competence, intelligence, innate worth, or any component of character - we're not going to get anywhere by moving the gender discrimination in the opposite direction.

I know better than most how frustrating it is to be judged as a person, not by any trait or qualification which you've consciously worked on, but by which sex chromosome you got from your father's genome. It's easy to get pissed about human history, and it's easy to get pissed when you come across misogynist jerks in modern society.

But you start losing the moral ground when you not only blow up far more spectacularly than the situation deserves, but start making deeply negative blanket statements in the other direction. When you're that infuriated by the little slights (real or perceived - I'm not one to decide), direct that energy towards real action.

Daphne, Sweetie,

Here's a helpful link for you: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surreptitious

In addition to the aforementioned, don't start a sentence with "And" unless you are an accomplished writer, insert a comma after transition words, separate the parts of a compound sentence with a comma, don't dangle prepositions, and finally, in an effort to lend any semblance of validity whatsoever to your vehement indignance, familiarize yourself with the meanings of big words before you employ them in your unfortunate attempts at insult.

Larry made his point quite succinctly. You, on the other hand...not so much.

"Her career is plummeting as we speak & I for one am so F*** happy! Let's see the lost 1/2 hr. "Friends" episode where she looses a tampon up herself & All her friends finger her to help get it out! About as talented as P. Hilton in a grainy blow job video!!!"

I am really surprised at the virulent misogyny inspired by one mediocre movie. I want to thank Dustin Rowles for feeding the fire by discussing the flaws of the above reviewed film, one of which is apparently Ms. Aniston's performance, via discussion of her physicality. It is indeed unfortunate that she cannot combine her "ability to wear a skirt" with sufficiently padded vertebrae. I am very sorry that this detracted from his enjoyment of the film. That must have been difficult for him. At least he opened up the topic of Ms. Aniston's physical flaws and the pain they have all personally caused us.
I also appreciated the intelligent conflation of women watching music they enjoy with physical arousal. This made an enormous amount of sense and was in no way funny just because the phrases "Lilith Fair," "Sleater-Kinney," "Smith" (or any other college where females are allowed to study) are punchlines, the punchline being, look at these females who are taking themselves seriously, that is hilarious, ha, hee, haa.

To sum up: what an intelligent, thoughtful review! What lovely comments on the review! Pajiba writers and commenters seem to be well-educated, thoughtful, and politically progressive people!

Jennifer Aniston has a weird looking back.

Kirsten Dunst has nasty thighs.

Neither of these statements are terribly Earth-shattering or offensive. If I wear shorts that are too high, my knock-knees look really odd and hideous. Somebody pointing them out isn't launching a savage attack on my gender. They're making fun of me because of my weird-looking knees. Sometimes we take the low road. And we often take the low road when attempting to write a review of a particuarly insipid film. Lines like this...

"He's borderline beefy, has a recessed hairline that only McConaughey could envy, and has no discernible aesthetic appeal, and yet, when he speaks, he can melt more panties than a Lilith Fair concert in a hot Smith College auditorium."

...are pounced upon for their "mysogyny," despite the fact it's criticizing VV's physical appearance, which is apparently and unforgiveable offense when applied to an actress.

Unclench.

my love for vince vaughn may not reach bronte proportions, but it is strong indeed. i will be seeing the movie. at the cheap seats in a month or two. but still, i will be shelling out my 2 bucks to see my man on the big screen...

grammaw,

Sweetie, my point wasn't about grammar. Frankly, neither was Larry's. My point was I don't understand posters who comment on how others need to get lives on a blog. As I stated (not up to your grammatically correct standards, clearly), if someone feels that way, why read the comments? You have the option of not reading Pajiba if you feel that people who post here have no lives or make superficial remarks (which is very hypocritical to post). I stand by my original opinion, gross grammatical errors and all, thank you very much.

I received my definition of the word from this site: http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/surreptitiously.html />
Larry was trying to insult others posting here, IMO, but did so in an underhanded manner by adding his last sentence. And that was my response to it. Appreciate your condescension, though, particularly since your issues with my post were irrelevant to the context of it.

Hey Dustin, hope you don't mind, but I linked your review on my review on my site... Which I usually do.

Awesome job by the way, but I disagree.

I found the movie a good waste of time and albeit it a good chuckle. I also think the WEDDING CRASHERS sucked...

So yea...

"When we're not talking about Lindsay Morgan Lohan (who I hold in the same esteem as Perez Hilton) and her self-loathing, narcissistic, binge-and-purge addiction to celebrity"

comparing lindsay to perez? Such a low blow my brain is boggled. Dude, you suck.

because i have a seriously semi-infatuated, midly-obsessive crush on a mr. vince vaughn, i will see this movie. i may not enjoy it, but i will go nonetheless. i will then silently lament aniston's rippled spine, but not before returning home to replay the wedding crashers dvd speacial features section several times, just to see vaughn say 'motorboat' over and over again...what a guy.

Man I just lost all respect for you, saying Kirsten Dunst was too fat, she's like a size 6 at the most. Fat is 300 pounds, not 87.

Let's face it. Jen is not funny and/or talented. She lucked out by scoring the role of the least funny but prettiest friend on "Friends" and managed to keep that role because of her hair.

She then barely maintained her grip on the spotlight by marrying Brad Pitt (who everyone seems to deify despite being him being a known cheater without a decent film in the last 5-6 years. Remember "The Mexican" and that crappy animated Sinbad movie? Damn!) and subsequently being kicked to the curb by the aforementioned fading eye candy (who was also in "Cool World," by the way).

Let's be honest. Aniston appeals only to people in life that enjoy motivational Garfield posters and who, under the assumption that your life is as meaningless as theirs, would dare to prescribe that you watch "The Good Girl." Her finest film is probably "The Leprechaun."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107387/

P.S. Who knew that so many Sister Schools Alumna read this page? Is there a Pajiba link on the Subaru Outback page?

"Her career is plummeting as we speak & I for one am so F*** happy! Let's see the lost 1/2 hr. "Friends" episode where she looses a tampon up herself & All her friends finger her to help get it out! About as talented as P. Hilton in a grainy blow job video!!!"




Parvonet, I'm really glad you censored the word fucking after you used the phrase "cum sponge" and right before you gave me such a stunning visual image about Aniston's vagina. Thank you for censoring the most offensive part of your rant.

VV wears me out. Plus, the buddy movies of the "frat pack," while funny, seem to play the same notes: men are oversized teenagers who need to embrace their inner children in order to be funny and/or sexy. Bo-ring.

JA is totally average in every way. And, while I am always sad for those whose marriages don't work out, I prefer watching Jolie any day.

There is nothing that could recommend this movie to me.

Come on, folks. When this movie was announced, who DIDN'T immediately picture a group of studio and agent types sitting around a conference table trying to assemble a profitable date movie? This ain't cinema, it's business. Ordinary people (which excludes us) love Aniston, and pairing her with Vaughn is a calculated move to draw more guys to a romantic comedy. You have to suspect the script was thrown together AFTER the leads were committed. Hey, Aniston and Vaughn: there's a concept! Find someone to wrap a script around that." And that's what we have. It'll make a shitload of money.

Wow, people really go nuts about the personal lives of actors, spines, and grammar on posts...

Gotta add, I saw the movie last night after reading this review and I was pleasantly suprised by it. Maybe it was my lowered expectations, but I thought the characters actually showed some growth and maturation at the end of the movie without going through a bunch on contrivances and unrealistic speeches that just don't happen in real life. It's not a romantic comedy by any means and most of the girls I was with were bummed by the ending, but it was kind of refreshing to see a movie that didn't tie their relationship up in a neat little bow after all the drama. Overall, a pretty funny movie that didn't come close to the absolutely schlockiness that most romcoms end on. For me it was probably one of the most realistic movie takes on a relationship that I have seen in a while. As for Anniston's appeal, I always thought it was the girl next door thing and I actually thought her "acting" was better in this than any of the other stuff I've seen her do (especially The Good Girl, which, no.) Vince Vaughn is definitely the more charismatic and talented one of the pair, and I wish he would break out of this frat boy stuff because he's got a lot more going for him. Is this a classic movie? Obviously not, but it's good and it accomplishes what it set out to do.

Ladies,

As a somewhat "thick" woman myself, with quite large thighs (who also happens to have a masters degree in angry feminism), I do believe that you are taking Dustin's comment about Kirsten Dunst's "cottage cheese thighs" a bit out context. He never said she was fat, he merely referred to her "cottage cheese thighs" as they appeared in "Bring it On". There are plenty of skinny bitches with cellulite . . . it is not the exclusive domain of fat bitches. Be accurate in your senseless ranting, and do not misrepresent what the man said.

ps. The "bitches" were thrown in just for the amusement of the pretentious, wanna-be lesbian, pseudo-feminists.

"There are plenty of skinny bitches with cellulite"
AMEN to chak

I saw this today, and I enjoyed it more than I expected, having read some reviews beforehand. I have to say that the first fight scene, after the dinner, was extremely well-written. The characters both convincingly delivered that time in a fight where everything just pours out, and nothing is related and yet everything is related. I also think the rest of the film might resonate with folks who are in their late 20's/early 30's. The X box (and x box live) playing especially drew some serious nods of understanding from the women at the theater where I saw it. The acting wasn't fabulous, but I think the ending was very satisfying. I hope the writing gets some credit.

I'm going to do my impression of Jennifer Aniston in "The Good Girl." Ready?

"Hi, Louise. I'm going to slump against the cosmetic counter and deliver all my lines in a kind of depressed monotone, and keep my eyebrows furrowed throughout every scene of this entire picture because people will think it's really deep performance. Especially because so many of my peers have done so much Botox they can't even furrow their eyebrows any more. And I'll get good reviews. Everyone will forget about Rachel. Wait a second. I think I'll even put my hair in a different style. Okay. There. That could get me an Oscar... What? Please don't ask me that; to answer it might require that I have a vocal inflection or facial expression."

Aniston's never going to be a movie star. Period. She's cute in an ensemble and she works on TV, not on a big screen.

Vaughn. Haven't seen his pics. Is he the guy who became a big alien in "Men In Black?" Now, Siobhan Fallon - *that's* a gal who should work more.

The Break-Up is a much better movie than the reviewers give it credit for. I guess they expected another Wedding Crashers-type comedy, which it is not. There are enough funny scenes to satisfy viewers, but not quite near the level of Vince Vaughn's more recent frat boy movies. He is great in the movie and shows his depth as an actor in the more dramatic scenes, which are spot-on. Jennifer Aniston is just there. As an actress she brings nothing to the movie. I think she's likeable and attractive; Vaughn is a more talented actor. As for Vaughn doing more dramatic work, as another poster suggested, he has done that work. No one went to see A Cool, Dry Place or Return to Paradise (I think that's the title). Maybe he'll take on dramatic roles again and, with his newfound popularity, people will take a notice.

Um, both Jen and Angie are too skinny. Angelina's arms were like twigs right up until she popped. ALL well-known H-wood actresses are super-skinny. Because fuckers even fatter than Vince Vaughn run Hollywood. Male movie stars are not held to the same standards, unless maybe they have to prep for an action role.

I'm a thin person (size 4), and I have cellulite. I don't think it's offensive or a fat comment to say someone has cottage cheese thighs.

Jennifer Aniston is such a one-dimensional actress. I don't believe that I've seen any one of her leading movies where I liked her character, so maybe she should stop playing that ONE bland character with the exact same look and actually challenge herself for a change.

Angry, angry people. The movie was what it was supposed to be. I don't believe either Aniston or VV expect to get an Oscar nomination for this, this was intended to be mild romantic-comedy entertainment. (Oh, and which one among you can tell me you haven't had that argument? The one about "wanting" to do the dishes? Come on, that was funny!)
What her spine, legs or hair have to do with it, I'll never know. I guess it was okay to show VV's bloated/soft stomach - no one seems offended about that. Put down the Star magazine, folks, and stop pretending you know these people.

Hey Grammaw,

There's no such thing as a "dangling preposition." It sounds all impressive and everything, your rant, but I suspect you don't know what you're talking about and that makes me laugh. I am laughing at you! You ass.

P.S. Owen Wilson is way hot. And yes, I am aware that "way" is not an adverb.

NOT A DATE MOVIE; unless you are in a great relationship. Things have been going shitty for H and I for a while and after that movie I am so ready to call it quips. If you are in a bad relationship - AVOID IT. Kinda liked; kinda didnt but it was real and it made me laugh my ass off most the time, when I wasnt realizing how painfully close to home it was the whole time.

Well we all agree Pajiba is the antithesis of Rolling Stone, and same goes for Pajiba's Dustin vs. the Stone's hallejuah crier for hire Peter Travers. Honestly....did anyone really think that King Kong was "the best movie of 2005" other than the local newspaper in Iowa? Not likely....then again, maybe I'm wrong?
Anyways, Travers wows us again with this quote from his review of The Break-Up on rollingstone.com: "Vaughn and Favreau are so money, just like they were in Swingers." Priceless....

I'm not surprised that this film sucked, Vince Vaughn was at his best in Swingers, but then he used the same schtick in other films and it simply doesn't work...he needs more "money" films he can sink his claws into, not bullshit romantic comedies that Jennifer Aniston seems to consistently inhabit...although I heard Friends With Money is good (mostly because of Catherine Keener though...)

Comparing Perez to Lindsay is about right...have you even seen his website lately? It's all about him going to parties with D and F list celebrities and kissing Paris Herpes's ass...there's nothing worse than a gay celebrity ass-kisser who knows no better than Lindsay Lohan...

Aniston-bashing aside, The Break-Up appears to have pulled in $38.1 million at the box office this weekend (feel free to correct the figures if rottentomatoes has them wrong). For a romantic comedy, that's pretty impressive, and for a romantic comedy with a female lead it's (I think) unprecedented. The sexism goes much, much deeper than Dustin Rowles' aberrant fascination with Jennifer Aniston's spine. How about some positive feedback for one of the handful of women who might just have what it takes to challenge the misogynist mores of tinseltown?

I saw The Breakup yesterday, because I was forced to. By my husband. he thinks VV is the shit.
But midway, he started to regret coming up with the idea of seeing this movie because it was SO REALISTIC. Their fights were exactly like our fights! We had the same argument about the dishes (and similar about the lemons, the difference is, when I ask him to buy milk, he comes home with soy milk - that's what he drinks).
We almost broke up right there in the theater!!
I cannot say the movie was crap, but today my husband is behaving totally diferent because he saw what happens when he only thinks of himself!
The movie was not great, but it was certainly a public-service for couples out there!!

Chootl,

Shut the hell up. Broadly generalizing an entire sex is a surefire sign of asshattery.

That is all.

The real Smith lightbulb joke:

How many Smith students does it take to change a lightbulb?

One--all you need is one hot woman and you'll never have a heterosexual lightbulb again.

I think the real issue of the movie is not:

Aniston.
Vaughan.
Favreau.

But the script and basic premise. WHEN and please enlighten me did Hollywood STOP just entertaining me with nice harmless romantic comedy fluff and make a film where the couple argues and well, breaks up?

WHY am I supposed to watch 2 hours or so of a movie where the girl doesn't get the guy, or vice-versa? What's the payoff for me watching the characters?

There isn't.

THAT's what's wrong. Not Vaughan or Aniston or body mass or anything else. But that Hollywood has to be too fricking "edgy" in places where it's just not appropriate.

Is it just me or has Vince Vaugn AND Jennifer Aniston just played the same character over and over and over again... that's not acting, that's repitition.

Saw The Breakup on bootleg DVD this weekend. My boyfried brought it over, and half-way through stopped watching it and went outside and left it on play so I could finish it. Afterwards, we both agreed it was good we didn't pay $10.50 to see it at a theater. Anway, I felt it was OK but not great since the movie was more drama than comedy; and, I agree with J. Rockford's post on 6/5, even though I like Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston.

On a personal note, IMO even though Vince Vaughn may not have the "handsome" features of a Brad Pitt or any of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive, I think he's attractive and appealing in a non-hollywood, real-life masculine way.

The one thing I appreciated in the movie, was that it also starred Vincent D'Onofrio as Gary's older brother [their "scene" together was believable and well-acted]. If you recall, they played nemises in the movie "The Cell" [2000] with J-Lo. Is there some sort of friendship-type nepotism going on here? Maybe VV can co-star with VD'O in Law & Order: CI? Just a thought....

I was hoping that JA would be playing Rachel in The Break Up. After a couple of previews I had my doubts. I will wait until I see Derailed to determine if she has any real acting ability. Vince Vaughn was great in Return to Paradise and my favorite of his, A Cool Dry Place. Isn't Joey Lauren Adams in The Break Up? She used to be Vince's gal. Did he leave her for Jen or did they split eons ago?

I wish I'd read this review before plunking down $15 for a pair of tickets this past weekend, it's spot-on.

I want to see Vince as a bad guy again. Can anyone say "Clay Pigeons". Oooo that laugh.

I intensely dislike when chicks snottily call each other "sweetie" during a bitchfight.

Wow, TBU is so realistic! What genius! We could all sit down with a couple of couples in suburbia and get enough stories to fill 4 hours of movie. Could we get 7 mill each ya figure?!

About as much genius or insight in this movie as Seinfeld's peanuts on an airplane bit. And speaking of peanuts, could someone knock the marlboro out of Aniston's mouth and feed her a few Planter's?

Wow, Dustin! You have saved a tiny bit of my sanity. Here I had gone and convinced myself that "You Again?" was some weird hallucination that had occurred between me and the brown acid. I was trying to explain it years ago early in the morning as one of my parties was winding down and nobody believed me. I feel vindicated.

I think Vince Vaughn is mostly funny, but sometimes his "smoooooooth" schtick goes into poor man's George Cloony territory, and I do think he's on the bloated side of ordinary looks wise. Jen certainly needs a drippy cheeseburger or two, but I do think that she has a certain charisma as an actress, good comic timing, and I defend her performance in "The Good Girl" because I have friends who are just like her character, slogging it out in shit jobs and shit marriages, wishing for something more every day.

Oh, and Parvonet, the men in white coats have niiiiiiice medications for whatever personality disorder you clearly have. Don't fight. Go with them.

Um, isn't Sleater-Kinney a bit past their sell-by date now? Aren't the young'uns into Le Tigre these days? Oh, and I'm suprised no one brought up the "Fun Bobby" reference yet...

It's too bad that Aniston seems to be squandering her comic talent, because she does have some -- not that you could tell from most of her movies. The previous poster who said she seems to be playing against Rachel-type was right on. Where is the infectious comic who jumped around the room, proclaiming that Chandler was a "transpondster"? Matt LeBlanc carried that show, but I thought Aniston was a close second.

I got a great kick out of all your comments, thanks guys and girls. I'll go get a life now...

anyone thinking of jennifer anniston as a talented actress is highly delusional

Waiting patiently for the Omen review......

Huh, people really hate Jennifer Aniston. I don't get it. I don't mind her really. I just can't figure out why people have such an aversion to her. Maybe it's me.

"That's racist" is listened to.
"That's homophobic" is listened to.
"That's sexist" is booed and sneered off the stage, once again.

When women in Hollywood can be as fat, droopy, and dull as Vince Vaughn and still get work (and lustful male fans), then we can stop talking about sexism. Until then, the issue's still on the table, despite everyone's best effort to ridicule it away. It's 2006, time to fucking address this crap already.

I too think it was an unexpectedly, and rather thoughtlessly, male-centered review. Come on, Dustin, you could have made your point without all that. Don't pander to the LCD--it's Pajiba, not the White House web site.

Um... isn't everyone forgetting Clay Pigeons? One of the best indie flicks [Vaughn] ever made. He is still an imposing presence onscreen, and he should be in more serious roles. Aniston has a right to be sad; she has to hear about her ex of 7+ years (not all married; dating counts) all over the place, due to that whacked-out homewrecker (who will leave Pitt eventually for a much younger, yummier thing; and don't forget everyone: she wasn't BORN that beautiful), and is now self-absorbed with looking good because she's always being compared-- a typical reaction to being dumped. If she gets herself into more serious roles or decides to go full-boar comedy, she may save her career.

I don't hate Jennifer Aniston per se, but I find her very off-putting on screen. To me she's mannered and shrill. She's always seconds away from sighing and rolling her eyes with contempt. Actually, she always does that!

The JA whole is greater than the sum of her parts. She has a huge schnozz, a big ol' weird chin, and is an embarrassingly bad actor. On the other hand she has huge mass appeal, scores points as a victum, gets a lot of mileage from her lovely locks, (remember when she showed up for that award show with her hair all messy/twisty/dready ~ how funny was that)and her perpetually erect nipples.
It'll be interesting to see how far she can go. Stars have gone farther on less...ie)What's up with the Simpson sisters or Britney Spears????
VV is benign ~ who cares one way or another...as long as he's nice.
You couldn't drag me to this movie. Not even if you bought me a large combo at the concession stand so I could stuff my face and add to my cellulite!

Is this really what passes for movie reviewing? Jennifer Aniston is skinny, all right, but need that be your thesis? It's not enough to make fun of the female lead for the first two paragraphs, then casually drop the names of movie history. I think we might benefit more if you actually said something about the film.

go vi!!!

"Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Vincent D'Onofrio"

Truth be told, I could not possibly be less interested in seeing anything with Jennifer Aniston or Vince Vaughn in it. Not sure why - not hostile about them (as I see many others are) - just disinterested. But i LOVE that list of supporting players. So I will go see this.

Attention casting agents: Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Vincent D'Onofrio. Come up with something clever and cast these three and I'm there. And please, NO remakes, n'kay? No Three Musketeers 2006 or whatever.

by the way, William? RIGHT. ON. I looked for what you looked for.

O.K. Is anyone tired of the random rotation of Ben Stiller/Will Farrell/Owen Wilson/Luc Wilson/Vince Vaughn/Jackie Chan through buddy comedy roles? Now we have to see their asses in romantic comedy stool! I'll admit Swingers was "original" when it first came out, Dodgeball had some funny moments, Old School was just plain fun, but Wedding Crashers, the lameness was apparent. Except for Jane Seymour's kitty moment, and a drawn out play at homo bed play, the humor attempts were lame. Has anyone heard of jumping the shark, well this funny man bunch not only jumped it, but the shark ate their testicles too. Now we have to see "real life" relationship stories, ripped from the headlines of Star magazine. Vince, you're so money, you're shitting it too, and the bed. You and Favreau lose the pounds, and get ready for Swingers 2,,,,cuz the schtick is getting old, just ask Jim Carey.

"Come on, folks. When this movie was announced, who DIDN'T immediately picture a group of studio and agent types sitting around a conference table trying to assemble a profitable date movie?" "You have to suspect the script was thrown together AFTER the leads were committed."

Sadly, Vince Vaughn was one of the producers, as well as sharing writing credits.

(On a side note, another producer was none other than Peter "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" Billingsley.

Vi,

If this review is your idea of "thoughtlessly male-centered," then you need to go and get yourself another cause. There was approximately 1 line about JA's body, coupled with one line about VV's physical appearance (He's borderline beefy, has a recessed hairline that only McConaughey could envy, and has no discernible aesthetic appeal . . . .)

The reason why the "feminist" approach is being laughed off the table (in this context) is because it is laughable that you want to get that riled up about a silly comment in a silly movie review. Get out there and spend some time with women who are really dealing with the ramifications of a sexist and male-centered and dominated society . . . women who are battered and afraid to leave their batterers; unemployed and forced to try to survive on government assistance; single mothers whose partners have died or left them with no source of income, no work skills and no way to provide healthcare for their babies; women who want to take the time out to spend time with their kids but are afraid to because of the corporate glass ceiling.

I have no reason to take up the "sexism" banner because someone comments on JA's skinny ass or Kirsten Dunst's jiggly thighs. Shit like that was the introductory discussion in feminism 101. Graduate to some real shit.

Oh, and one other thing . . . I know a 29 year old woman with 4 kids, a dead husband, and no job who would love to be the "victim" of the particular brand of sexism that pays Jennifer Aniston gazillions of dollars to parade her skinny ass (and vertebrae)naked in front of the cameras.

oh really,we are all just a bunch of jobless,star hating ass#$%^*&$^*&*!!!!!come on.cut jennifer some slack and let her do whatever she wants in peace(be it hiding behind vince or ogling at brads pics)
i credit a lot of stroing will to her cos it cant b ez watching that man eater with her fmr beau!!!!
i love u jenny

Jennifer is fabulous- deal with it

Hey Dustin,
It's true that there is only one line about JA's physiognmy in yr. review. However, the title of the review, as well as most Pajiba advertisements, happen to reference that one line.

Chak - the reason, I think, that I and other commenters are jumping on Dustin for what is comparatively mild misogyny is that generally this website and it's reviews are politically progressive. Of course there are real and dire problems currently besetting women of all classes, from the erosion of reproductive rights to wage inequity to high levels of sexual assault to domestic abuse. In fact, these are all so fucking depressing that sometimes people like to surf the internet and read fluffy (if thought-provoking and generally well-reasoned) movie reviews. Highly sensitized with worry over real-life issues, a critique of a film star for going too far with the eating disorder she had to develop in order to sustain a career - one could see how this might tweak someone's last nerve. What is really depressing, however, are all the angry, angry comments about how JA is a horse cum-sponge who needs a sandwich. Add a punch-line-less Sleater Kinney joke and the weltschmertz reaches nauseating levels.

BTW - What is this "real shit" of which you speak? Does it have anything to do with the "Male Gaze"? Because domestic abuse and all the "real shit" is the trickle-down effect of this way of looking at people - a way that is propogated by this review.

Wow.

How many people would have jumped up and cried sexist if the first comment hadn't been made?

Just a thought.

"...he can melt more panties than a Lilith Fair concert in a hot Smith College auditorium."

i love you people.

Posted by: Marie at June 8, 2006 07:03 PM~~~

and this is why i hate being female... get the eff over it, eh? so JA's ass is too skinny and KD's has cellulite, BIG EFFIN DEAL, PEOPLE! Or at least realize that we women don't have to pull out the pitchforks everytime a snarky comment is made, k?

Jennifer is still just pissed shelost Brad because she IS A RAGING COKEHEAD!!!!!!! (why else is she 80 lbs.) and she refused to have a kid because it meant no more coke, cigs, and gaining weight. Sorry bitch, go get some more blow!!!!

I thought the movie was hilarious. I only found two problems. 1. they gave away too many of the punch lines in the previews so when I got to the theatre I saw them coming and 2. the ending was dissapointing, I wanted to see them end up together. I know it left room for that but it wasn't enough for me. Any way I think it's probably Aniston's best movie so far and that's something. I was laughing and crying so I'll give it two thumbs up despite the small flaws.

"Vince Vaughn was great in Return to Paradise and my favorite of his, A Cool Dry Place."

Yeah Pam!!

Vince is wicked hot in that movie (CDP), cause it is before he started his schtick. Don't get me wrong, Wedding Crashers and dodgeball were wicked funny, but it is nice to see actors play different types of roles in different movies.

"There is a reason that your average cubicle schmuck succeeds at only making your skin crawl whenever he calls your Power Point presentation "money.""

Schmuck is right. But, when will he stop with the DAMN speakerphone!!????

I went to see this movie last night and was pleasantly surprised. It _isn't_ really a comedy. It really _is_ about a break-up. Due to the marketing, I was expecting more of a failed War-of-the-Roses type schtick and instead I got a low-key dramady. I'm not saying this movie was amazing, or that Aniston's performance moves mountains, and there are some very annoying scenes where Aniston and Vaughn's characters yell at each other ad nauseum without anything particularly funny or interesting to say...but overall I found the movie kinda refreshing. It did manage to remind me of the pain of pulling away from somebody you've come to care for, even if you know the relationship isn't right. I thought Vaughn did a good job acting like an emoting human being. Aniston, not so much. But she's servicable. She even elicited a tear from me with all of her sobbing at the end. For what that's worth to you.

You all actually WATCHED this shit ?? Where are the terrorists when we need them to thin the herd.

Whew, I just don't get it. About 90% of the posts are from people who didn't even see the movie but felt the need to complain or tear apart something. I've always felt that we live in a country of critics without knowledge and I feel like I'm living it when I read these posts.

I went to the movie expecting to see a fairly funny and somewhat heartfelt romantic story, and that's what I got.

Dustin made mention of the authentic dialogue, especially, at the beginning, and boy, did you hit the mark here. A week later, my husband and I are still talking about the lemons -- which captured completely the challenges between men and women when they attempt to communicate with each other about what they want.

If you want to see a pretty likable movie with pretty likable actors who are speaking some lines that you can truly relate to, and that's good enough for you, then this movie will serve you well.