Film Review: We Broke Up

STUDIO: Vertical Entertainment | DIRECTOR: Jeff Rosenberg | CAST: William Jackson Harper, Aya Cash, Sarah Bolger, Tony Cavalero, Kobi Libbi, Zak Steiner, Peri Gilpin
THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2021; VOD RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2021
SPECS: NR | 80 min. | Comedy

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie  1/2

Seconds into We Broke Up, we see that after 10 years together, Lori (Aya Cash, TV’s The Boys) and Doug (William Jackson Harper, Midsommar), still sizzle, as they flirt adorably and make each other laugh. But that quickly comes to screeching halt when Doug spontaneously proposes and Lori’s immediate response is to vomit. Badly hurt, Doug ends the relationship just as they are set to leave for her sister’s wedding. Not wanting to ruin the happy festivities, they decide to pretend to be together for a few more days…

Aya Cash and William Jackson Harper in We Broke Up.

Co-writers Laura Jacqmin (TV’s Get Shorty) and Jeff Rosenberg (OJ: The Musical), who also directs, set up what would seem to be a fun and spirited premise for an off-beat rom-com. Unfortunately, that isn’t the movie we get. Cash and Harper have a natural chemistry and it would have been charming to see their sparks bounce off each other as they’re placed in one awkward situation after another, struggling to hide the truth of their painful split while trying not falling back into their familiar romantic rhythms.

Instead, Cash and Harper don’t get a chance to move much past being confused and sad as Doug explains he naturally wants to take their loving relationship to the next level while Lori wants to keep things as they are. There are some interesting relationship dynamics to explore here, especially since Doug and Lori are still very much in love, but the screenplay doesn’t dig in, choosing instead to focus on silly set-ups like setting the wedding location at the bride’s old summer camp to generate some slapstick laughs. (This includes guests partaking in team challenges and drinking games like Red Rover and Flip Cup, along with teasing Doug and Lori with other romantic interests.)

We Broke Up straddles the line between rom-com and rom-dram and by not picking a lane, its uneven tone leaves one with few laughs and weakened dramatic stakes.