'The Break-Up': Things Fall Apart

In the romantic comedy "The Break-Up," Vince Vaughn plays Gary, a tour guide in Chicago who charms patrons with his slightly risque jokes. His idea of a good time is shooting pool, watching the Cubs on widescreen TV, or firing up a video game while his girlfriend Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) kvetches in the background.

She's a humor-impaired gallery dealer who has a sharp eye for fine art, ballet and Gary's domestic shortcomings. Her reactions amount to three: she's appalled, thunderstruck or upset by his actions.

"I want you to want to wash the dishes," Brooke whines.

"Why would I want to wash the dishes?" says Gary.

She may be right, but he's funny. And in comedy, serious loses and funny wins. Even when Brooke ends the relationship, forcing both parties to live an estranged coexistence in their shared condo, Gary's always on top. When she brings in a new suitor named Mike, for instance, Gary persuades him to sit down for a quick game of virtual football. Mike soon forgets he's supposed to be taking Brooke out on a date. She reads in the background, pretending not to care; losing again.

Aniston showed peppy spirit as Rachel on "Friends" and she was a ticklish surprise as Joanna in "Office Space." And thanks to his hilarious turns in films such as "Swingers" and "Wedding Crashers," we're preconditioned to guffaw at everything Vaughn does, cluelessness, couch-potato slovenliness and all.

Nobody likes a fixed fight, except the backroom boys making the deal. Which is why "The Break-Up" may have its share of laughs, but isn't much fun .

That's because Vaughn -- also one of the film's producers -- seems to have strapped on the championship belt before the opening bell. He gets all the laughs. And Aniston's the pretty palooka who takes the fall, all too early.

-- Desson Thomson

The Break-Up PG-13, 105 minutes Contains profanity, sexual content and some nudity. Area theaters.