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In a romantic comedy, things typically unfold by a tried-and-true formula: boy meets girl, things go right, then just a little bit wrong, all on the way to happily-ever-after.

But what about when boy and girl are exhausted after another long day? When the routine starts to drive them absolutely nutty? When all the little things that used to endear them to each other start to just . . . really . . . annoy each other?

Enter The Break-Up . . . an unconventional romantic comedy that follows a couple’s often comical, sometimes painful, but always entertaining journey into the unraveling and deconstruction of a once solid and loving relationship.

VINCE VAUGHN and JENNIFER ANISTON star as Gary and Brooke, a couple who let a seemingly small argument escalate out of control and suddenly find themselves—after two years together—confronted with the choice between love and loss.

With the once happy couple standing their ground and refusing to move out of the condo they’ve shared and showered with attention, an all-out war of the exes breaks out. The Break-Up boasts an all-star supporting cast of friends and family who come to give Gary and Brooke advice and direction from every possible perspective.

On Gary’s side are his best buddy Johnny O (JON FAVREAU); his level-headed realtor Riggleman (JASON BATEMAN); and his brothers and business partners, quirky workaholic Dennis (VINCENT D’ONOFRIO) and self-styled super-suave Lupus (COLE HAUSER). Advising Brooke are her stable sounding board Addie (JOEY LAUREN ADAMS); Addie’s settled-down domesticated husband Andrew (PETER BILLINGSLEY); Brooke’s flamboyant (but-not-gay!) brother Richard (JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS), who delights in his all-male a cappella group The Tone Rangers; her well-meaning mom (ANN-MARGRET); and her oddball co-workers, fabulous and fearsome gallery owner Marilyn Dean (JUDY DAVIS) and wide-eyed receptionist Christopher (JUSTIN LONG).

Following the well intended—but often misguided—advice from their collection of advisors, Gary and Brooke experiment with a series of schemes designed to either push the other one away or win them back. In this hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt comedy, they come to realize that, in matters of the heart, winning doesn’t come from being the last one standing but from learning when to put the gloves down.

The Break-Up is directed by PEYTON REED (Bring It On, Down With Love). The original script was written by screenwriters JEREMY GARELICK and JAY LAVENDER, with story by Vaughn, Garelick and Lavender. Vaughn is also the producer on the project with SCOTT STUBER (upcoming You, Me and Dupree, The Kingdom). PETER BILLINGSLEY (Zathura, Made) and STUART BESSER (The Sweetest Thing, Identity) serve as executive producers. Reed’s creative team includes cinematographer ERIC EDWARDS (To Die For, Cop Land), production designer ANDREW LAWS (Along Came Polly, Derailed), costume designer CAROL ODITZ (Murder by Numbers, The Ice Storm) and editors DAVID ROSENBLOOM (Hart’s War, The Recruit) and DAN LEBENTAL (Elf, From Hell).

Release Date: 21/07/06
Distributor: UIP/Universal
Running Time: tbc
Cert: 12A