Men may be from Mars and women from Venus, but Brooke
and Gary aren’t just from different planets — they’re
from different galaxies. She likes ballet; his idea of high culture is Grand Theft Auto. She likes
things clean; he couldn’t care less if their tony condominium looks
like a sty. She works at a high-end art gallery; he’s a tour-bus
guide, escorting visitors around Chicago. She’s all about elaborate
centerpieces at dinner; he’d rather replace the dining-room table
with a pool table. How did these two ever get together? That’s the question that The Break-Up poses, not just for
Brooke and Gary (Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn) but for every couple
who’ve drifted apart and considered reconciling. Every long relationship reaches a crossroads: A couple
argues about the dishes, but the conflict is really about respect.
They’re yelling and screaming — and not listening to a thing
the other is saying. For Brooke and Gary, the tipping point comes when he
brings home three lemons instead of the dozen that Brooke requested. He
doesn’t think it’s a big deal; she sees it as another example
that he just doesn’t care. In a moment of anger, Gary yells that he
just wants to be left alone; Brooke grants his wish. However, the one thing that neither one of them wants
to give up is the condominium they share — and so begins a game of
one-upmanship in which each does their best to make the other’s life
as miserable as possible. Director Peyton Reed does a fine job of navigating
this difficult material as he balances the comedy with the pathos. The film
is as moving as it is funny, and credit goes to Reed for rendering these
moments with equal skill. If the film has a fault, it is that it left me wanting
more from the supporting characters, including Jon Favreau as Gary’s
paranoid best friend, Jason Bateman as a peacemaking real-estate agent, and
screen vet Vincent D’Onofrio as Gary’s brother. Joey Lauren
Adams, Ann-Margret, Judy Davis and Peter Billingsley also appear —
and it’s because this cast is so talented that we wish they’d
been given the chance to bust loose. In theaters this week. . . An American Haunting [PG-13]
Documented as the first death of a human caused by a spirit, the story of a
19th century Tennessee family and the mysterious circumstances surrounding
the death of their daughter. ShowPlace West
The Benchwarmers [PG-13]
A trio of middle-aged has-beens forms a baseball team to compete against
area Little League teams in a feeble attempt to gain some dignity. White Oaks
The Da Vinci Code [PG-13]
The suspenseful tale of a death in the Louvre and a symbolic conundrum
linked to the Priory of Sion, a mysterious group holding a deep secret that
could shake the foundation of modern day Christianity. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Just My Luck [PG-13]
Ashley, a Manhattan mover and shaker, flip flops fortunes with an ill-fated
young man after a kiss. She’s no longer lady lucky. ShowPlace East
Mission Impossible 3 [PG-13]
With his team reassembled, spy Ethan Hunt steps out of retirement to stop
the evil deeds of Owen Davian, a devious weapons supplier. ShowPlace West, Route 66 Drive-In
Over the Hedge [PG] RJ, a
fast-talking shady raccoon, persuades a community of rodents living on the
outskirts of suburbia to take a chance and enter the wonderful world of
scavenging food from humans. Parkway Pointe,
ShowPlace East
Poseidon [PG-13] A remake
of the maritime adventure flick about a sinking ocean liner and the
passengers stranded on board. ShowPlace West,
ShowPlace East, Route 66 Drive-In
R.V. [PG] The Munro
family attempts to have an old-fashioned camping trip to the Rockies, but a
group of cracked campers beat them to the punch. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East, Route 66 Drive-In
Scary Movie 4 [PG-13]
Fourth in a series that pokes fun at the horror genre. White Oaks
See No Evil [R] A group
of criminal teens are sent to clean a decrepit hotel only to find they are
trespassing on the territory of a reclusive serial killer. ShowPlace West
Stick It [PG-13]
Rebellious Haley leaves her life of trouble after a clash with the police
to return to a prim and polished existence as a top gymnast with a
celebrated coach. ShowPlace West
X-Men: The Last Stand [PG-13] A new cure that reverses
mutations causes tempers to flare in this third and final installment of
the X-Men tale. Parkway Pointe, ShowPlace
East
This article appears in Jun 1-7, 2006.
