The Break Up Film Review Essay Example

particularly their conflicting desires for connection and independence. It is evident that Gary is messy while Brooke is a perfectionist.

He likes baseball, she likes ballet. After dinner with their families, they argue about never going to ballet, never traveling, and never pursuing her interests. The connection between them is a desire to be close to others while also seeking independence. When Brooke tells Addie about her breakup with Gary and her decision to quit her job, Addie advises Brooke to at least text if she finds a place that doesn't lead back to their current situation. This struggle can be seen in the desire for both inclusion and seclusion, trying to balance involvement with the outside world with personal desires.

The movie illustrates the idea of people living their lives independently, without interference from others. This is shown when Brooke asked Gary to go to an Old's 97 concert, but he declined, causing Brooke to realize that she had lost him. The relationship itself and interactions with others outside of it demonstrate both stability and change dynamics. After two years together, Gary felt a lack of control over the items he could have in the condo.

While having a dinner with their families, Brooke and her partner made the decision to not have a pool table at home. Nevertheless, after they broke up, he ended up getting a pool table for the dining room of their condominium. It is important to strike a balance between predictability and novelty in relationships. Having a partner who is completely unpredictable is undesirable, but too much predictability can lead to boredom. In the movie, Brooke

acknowledges Gary's predictable behavior by saying "I should expect this from Gary" after one of their arguments.

The challenges of conventionality and uniqueness arise in relationships as individuals strive to meet both personal and external expectations. Brooke expresses unrealistic expectations of Gary, hoping that he will recognize the need for change and apologize upon returning home. Balancing the desire for intimacy with the necessity of privacy is equally crucial in maintaining a certain level of distance from others. In the film, Brooke desired an apology from Gary, but her expectation went unfulfilled.

The man's eyes were devoid of hope and lacked openness, indicating a lack of concern for the other person's feelings and a desire for privacy, implying that he was not being entirely honest. Brooke expresses to Gary that all she wants is for him to care regardless of the situation, hinting at a sense of secrecy. Both individuals must decide how much they are willing to disclose about their relationship. When they unexpectedly encounter each other on the street at the end of the movie, a spark reignites between them, and neither wants to depart.

2. During their break up, the friends and family of Gary and Brooke played various roles, both supportive and non-supportive. Brooke's sister served as her main support, while her brother added fuel to the fire by visiting the condo with his singing friends. On the other hand, Gary found support from his bar buddy, despite some questionable ideas such as suggesting they should get someone unfamiliar to "handle" the problem.

3. The movie depicts various styles of conflict. One such style is competition,

which is evident when she goes on a date and Gary challenges her friend to a game. Collaboration is another style, portrayed at the end of the movie when they discuss alternative courses of action. The only compromise in their breakup is the agreement that his room would serve as the living room. Avoidance is a prominent style in the movie as they cannot bear to be in each other's presence.

In this movie, both individuals attempted to evade one another and neither was inclined to accommodate the other. Brooke adamantly insisted on having things done her way and showed no willingness to make any compromises. The most effective method for resolving their conflicts in this film would have been open communication and discussing their relationship issues.

4. In this movie, the primary love language displayed by Brooke is acts of kindness. All she desires is a simple thank you and a clean house. However, it remains unclear what Gary's love language is. If I were to make an educated guess, I would say it is quality time. Prior to their breakup, the photographs of them and their friends indicated his enjoyment in spending time with Brooke. If only they had communicated effectively, their relationship may have never reached its end. As the film concludes, they both acknowledge their mistakes and are found discussing what could have been done differently in the empty condo.