Film Night: The Break-Up (2006)

When the DVD box talks about "romantic comedy", "an ex-rated comedy" and "a hilarious series" (of events), I don't think it's wrong to expect to expect a laugh riot, but The Break-Up (not that that we're told this in advance) is a semi-serious drama interlaced with lighter moments.

Now I don't mind going into films knowing nothing about them and letting them take me along for the ride, but The Break-Up definitely sets its stall up in the "comedy" camp and so all my instincts were fighting against this "serious drama" I was watching on the DVD. Which is a pity, because stepping back, you realise that this is a very brave film - taking the tried and tested format of the rom-com and warping it into something new.

Unfortunately, I also suspect this is why it failed at the box office - the Jennifer Aniston audience, on the whole, want her to always be her character from Friends. Those who came in looking for relationship drama got comedy, those who came in looking for an hour and 42 minutes of laughter got drama.

That said, you're always going to get value for money with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, supported by the likes of Jon Favreau and Justin Long, and while I got the message of the film - be appreciative of your partner - I just didn't get the film ... or, as Rachel called it, the "bitter-sweet" ending.

I guess my lessons in chick flick appreciation still have a long way to go from being able to hum I've Had The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing!