--- title: "The Break-Up: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-break-up/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-break-up" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Break-Up (2006): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 10 reviews: 1 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews lean negative on The Break-Up, with most critics finding too few laughs to make its sour relationship drama work. Praise centres on individual performances: some reviews appreciate Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn’s rawness, Vaughn’s comic agility, and supporting players who provide occasional relief, particularly Jon Favreau. There is some appreciation for its departure from romantic-comedy convention, though little agreement that the darker approach succeeds. Reservations cluster around the script’s awkward shifts between comedy and drama, the couple’s poor chemistry and their frustrating inability to communicate. The spread is wide: some critics find it watchable or intermittently funny, while the harshest see an unpleasant relationship offering little insight or effective comedy. The New Yorker supplies the clearest dissent, praising the staging of mutual incomprehension and finding sharp social observation in the very romantic discord that others regard as a failing. ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2015. Brody calls the film terrific and praises its inversion of romantic-comedy conventions into romantic disaster. He singles out its comic choreography of mutual incomprehension and its sharp social perceptions. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/movie-of-the-week-the-break-up) ## Empire — Tony Horkins Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2006. The review finds the film a mildly successful, darker-than-usual romantic comedy. It praises the raw performances of Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/break-review/) ## Time Out — Anna Smith Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2006. The page identifies this as Anna Smith’s review, but its verdict is unavailable in the accessible material. The visible description only signals a formula-bucking structure, without enough text to identify a specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-break-up-1) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 21 July 2006. The review finds the film watchable but too sour and short on laughs to balance its unpleasant relationship drama. It singles out Jon Favreau’s comic improvisation as the film’s secret weapon. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-break-up-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Carina Chocano Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2006. Chocano finds the film alternately funny and painful, but says it is easier to enjoy in the moment than to praise on reflection. She praises Vince Vaughn’s nimble humor while faulting the script for shutting down communication between the couple. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-02-et-breakup2-story.html) ## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael Rating 2/5. The review criticizes the film’s disjointed script and awkward shifts between comedy and drama. It also faults the story for offering little insight into the couple’s relationship dynamics. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-819y1e/the-breakup/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 1.5/4. 31 May 2006. Schager finds the film tonally muddled, sluggish, and largely laugh-free. He faults the leads’ lack of chemistry and says the film’s funniest moment recycles a bit from *Swingers*. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-break-up/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2006. The critic finds the comedy and romance largely unsuccessful. The film’s unconvincing humor is a central complaint. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/02/movies/02brea.html?mcubz=1) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2006. The critic calls the romantic comedy a keen disappointment. They single out poor chemistry between the stars and a screenplay that lacks a strong opening or ending. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-break-up/4027565.article) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2006. Lowry finds the film’s central relationship unpleasant and its comedy largely ineffective. He singles out the supporting cast for occasional bright spots, especially John Michael Higgins, Judy Davis and Jon Favreau. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/the-break-up-1200515912/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-break-up.md