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. 
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