July 6 2006 on the Big Blink..

Saw "The Breakup" with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. I must admit I was a bit reluctant to see this movie. It is a known CHICK FLICK which means it is about relationships (which I actually like in a movie) and that the guy will be the one at fault (which isn't really fair now is it?)

As it turns out, the movie does stick to that formula. Gary (Vince Vaughan) is indeed a shallow self centered character, and also is funny and articulate. Booke (Jennifer Aniston) is long suffering and a really wonderful person who fell under his spell but now finds that he is not fun for the long haul. Both characters are well developed. There is a lot of humor in the story, and funny side characters, including Jon Favreau as a bartender who seems to have mafia leadings and to be totally self centered but who gives Gary the insight on how others see him. Judy Davis is hysterical as the owner of the gallery where Brook works.

My BIG complaint about this movie and many other relationship oriented movies is that the story is portrayed as having the guy as a character who needs to change and won't, and a woman as a character who puts up with all of his crap until finally she can't take it any more and decides to get out of the relationship.

No argument from me, Gary is not deserving of her. He cannot see how others see him and won't lift a finger to help another person if he doesn't want to. In the end he realizes his faults and tries to make up for it. In a rather surprising twist, Brooke has had enough and won't come back anyway. But Brooke is portrayed as wonderful person who has all any mortal could stand from Gary. Now admittedly she does see that she could have met Gary half way on some things, and maybe she could have, but it was way too little compared to Gary's realization of how he had treated he. In real life I think that the woman sometimes has to grow a little too, and perhaps the growth Brooke has is that she discovers she doesn't need Gary anymore, but I felt that this movie unfairly loaded the dice against Gary.

Can us guys have a little balance please???? I mean I know we are not perfect. But I want a relationship that serves both sides better. That is why my favorite chick flick is "When Harry Met Sally," because both the male and female haves in that move are real well developed but flawed people.

Big wheel keep on Blinkin.. Proud Mary keeps on Turning.. The Blink