Breakin' All the Rules

seems to me that this is where they got the idea for HITCH. this is a very good movie, funny, sarcastic, witty. jamie foxx is terrific, so is gabrielle union. i like the way that they wrote the story, the way that they set it up where the one person doesn't know what the other one is doing, and that they think that it's another person, i guess you just have to watch it to see what i mean. i think in real life that the "break up" book would be very helpful to a lot of people. now granted this isn't an action movie, so don't expect action, what however you should expect is a lot of laughs, and i don't mean a little, i mean tons of laughs, this movie will keep you in stitches the whole entire time,, my fav. character of course was the dog,, trying to get through the doggie door, then peeing when he get's stuck in the door , i thought that was cute.

It's only a coincidence that I watched this while Morris Chestnut is currently starring in a TV series. That could have been a reason why stations would have shown it, but I've had this movie in the DVR for a long time, thinking I might have seen it. It didn't seem familiar, though.

And this movie shows why I like Morris Chestnut, which is more than I can say for the TV series "Watson". I like him as a comic actor. He's not actually funny, but plays the straight man well. It's not a distinctive performance, but nothing about this movie is distinctive.

Jamie Foxx is also good, and of course funny. That's what he does best. I know he can do more, but he's just fine here.

The most entertaining quality of this movie is the deception. People don't know what is true, or if they do, they don't know whether the other person also knows. It's fun even if it's confusing.

If anyone stands out, it's Jennifer Esposito. Amazingly sexy, and she does get in the bathtub even if we don't see much. And she has talent as an actress, although I'm not sure whether it's overacting. Anyway, Rita is quite a character.

Pat Cranshaw stands out too as a dirty old man. How could he still be alive? Wasn't he already this old when he was in the "M*A*S*H" spinoff?

Gabrielle Union is also good. She always plays pretty and intelligent women.

And let's not forget Peter MacNicol. I know him from somewhere, but he's good at wimpy here.

As for Helen, I'm glad she left. And I'm glad about more about her that I won't mention.

I didn't like a lot of the music, but there were several rap songs that I didn't actually hate. And I've always liked "Atomic Dog". Evan is jamming to that one. As for Heather Headley, she isn't. Her song is what I hate about smooth jazz. If that's what it is. I prefer the older styles, without vocals and less of a beat.

Don't call it family friendly.

Is it worth it? I think so. It won't win Oscars but it doesn't have to be that good to be fun.

Not a bad movie, although the commercials make it look so. I find Jamie Foxx pretty funny in his routines, and although his really spastic comedic side doesn't truly shine through his lines, he has a few Jamie Foxx moments.

It is not hilarious, and it is not going to win any academy awards, its a pretty good romantic comedy, good for all crowds.

JAMIE FOXX's supermodel girlfriend breaks up with him causing him to write the Break-Up handbook detailing how to successfully break up with someone without cause the emotional trauma or a stalker.

MORRIS CHESTNUT is Jamie Foxx's character's cousin who has a 3-month commitment limit. GABRIELLE UNION is dating Morris Chestnut's character and through a whole bunch of drama, Jamie Foxx meets up with her, not knowing she is the same girl his cousin was dating.

Overall, a decently entertaining movie. Definitely worth the rental fees and your time.

Breakin' All the Rules presents the worst part about dating (never mind that it's a stupid concept): that some people believe there are rules, or make up their own.

If you accept that, all in all, it's a funny movie. The story is inventive, even if there's no big surprise. Jamie Foxx plays a very attaching love broken man, the beautiful Gabrielle Union gives us a nice balancing act of sweet, smart, and upset, and both of them are really hot together. Morris Chestnut is great as a wingman, Jennifer Esposito looks born to play the gold digger, and Peter MacNicol seems to have found the sweet spot of the clueless desperate rich media owner.

Some of the acting is over done a bit, especially the psychotic character played by Bianca Lawson. Jamie seems to push his suave a bit too far at time, just as Morris does.

It's good entertainment if you accept the limitation and the subject.

I never really had much to say in the way of Jamie Foxx prior to his recent break out in roles ie. Collateral and although I haven't seen it yet I have no doubt his performance in "Ray" will further my opinions of him. He's a great character actor and possibly on his way to being the caliber of such great African American performers as Denzel Washington and Will Smith. His role in Collateral was scene stealing and up against Tom Cruise's Oscar worth performance it was a challenge but he impressed me. Then comes this fun little romantic comedy. A very different change of pace for Foxx but he pulls it off flawlessly in a amusing, and fun to watch film.

Breakin All The Rules is about an editor turned author who is dumped by his model girlfriend (Bianca Lawson) and during his fit of depression ends up writing a guide to breaking up with people...the right way. His cousin and best friend played perfectly by Morris Chestnut is a womanizer who doesn't believe in these rules until he sees them in action. The book makes Quincy famous, but unlucky in love until he meets the perfect woman in a case of mistaken identity and falls for her. It just so happens she is the latest girlfriend of his cousin who is also in love with her.

The comedy in this film relies heavily on the old formula of mistaken identities, and mix ups in happenings, reminds me of the old Three's Company episodes. The film also relies heavily on the personalities of the characters. The womanizer, the nice misunderstood main character guy, the stuck up model ex girlfriend, the "perfect" woman, and the other supporting characters make the film brilliant. The film is full of former TV sitcom actors which perhaps makes sense being it does play out like an episode of a sitcom but really what is wrong with that? Peter MacNichol of Ally McBeal fame plays his usual character but always fun to watch. He's the perfect blend of superiority while being completely inferior. Leading lady played by Gabrielle Union goes with both Foxx and Chestnut's character and she does a great job. Previously seen as her role on Friends, I was never fond of her although I liked her character in 10 Things I Hate About You and she's had some other great roles. She was perfect for her role in this film. Jennifer Esposito makes a fun little addition to the cast as the slightly psycho girlfriend/fiancée of MacNichol's character. The cast just works so well together and the film is written in such a way that you can't help but enjoy it's simplicity.

I enjoy what everyone on the message board calls "Black Cinema" but this is one of the best because it's still very mainstream without losing the culture. Overall this is a fun film to check out a Saturday night, it's not too heavy but is satisfying and cliché'd which sometimes is a good thing.

7/10