The Break Up

The Break Up is the eagerly anticipated film starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. In our movie stars are more important than the people around us world, I have found that interest in the stars off screen romance has just as much or more interest to most of us as the interest in their movie does. Sadly, the real life romance may be more interesting to watch. The on screen couple get together for no readily apparent reason, and have gone together in purchasing a condo that neither could afford on their own. The film shows us a lot of what bad things can happen when two people just aren't compatible with one another. Jennifer Aniston's character wants to manipulate her man into being something he is probably not capable of being. She doesn't listen to her best friend whom she confides in at nearly every turn, then wonders why things don't turn out the way she wants them. Vince Vaughn's character doesn't have a lot going for him either. Instead of 'chasing the girl' when they first have the big fight, he runs to the bar to whine to his best friend played wonderfully by Jon Favreau. I thought the better couple would have been Vince and Jon since they know each other almost too well. In the end, it's just pretty obvious that these two shouldn't be together and though you want a happy ending (this was supposed to be a romantic comedy wasn't it?), just as Vince Vaughn is left holding the bag at the end, you know the only good thing about the relationship was the condo. My SAP score.....

Story: 4
Acting: 6
Production: 5
Enjoyment Factor: 0
Overall: 2 1/2 Stars

Damah Day 3

Though this post is coming to you a full two weeks after the festival ended, the last day is still fresh in my mind. In fact I think that the most fun and best film from the festival was the last one that I saw. Christopher Brennan Saves the World is a great little teenage comedy where sage advice with soda and ice is the mantra. Christopher Brennan is a high school geek that gives his advice at the drive through of the local burger joint. His 'clients' talk to him through the plastic hamburger that contains the speaker and microphone for ordering their burgers as well has how to get a girl to like you, whether to get married or not, just about everything but math tutoring. The film is fun, and heartwarming and I at least identified with Christopher's geekiness and troubles dealing with his own issues with girls. If you have the chance to see this one at a film festival near you, go see it. It is well worth the price of admission. This was a great way to end the festival, and places it on my list of festivals I HAVE to attend each year. I'd love to share the experience with you so let me know and maybe we'll have to find a way to get a group together for next year. The only bit of advice for the festival organizers I had was to put the film makers information into the program itself (if they wanted it there of course) so that those of us who are fans of their films can contact them and see where they might be playing at next, or whether or not their film is available for purchase. There were several films at the festival that I had to do some rather extensive research on before I found the filmmakers web site. Sadly, Christopher Brennan Saves the World I haven't been able to find yet. Anyway, the festival was in my opinion a great success and worth seeing and sharing with all of you. I will now be stuck reviewing films that have distribution for better or worse. Until next time, which should be in about 20 minutes.....,..