Breakin' All the Rules

"Breaking all the Rules" looked promising just by having the talented Jamie Foxx in the lead role. As it plays on the screen, this comedy, directed by Daniel Tablitz, who also wrote the screen play, seems to have been produced on the strength of its star, or maybe someone in the studio decided that making it with a mostly black cast, had possibilities. This comedy could have been played by any cast of any color without making any dent in the genre.

The basic problem is the screen play. Do we care about these people? I don't think so. The running gag about Nicky resembling Halle Berry runs tired after the second time it's mentioned. Even the book that Quincy writes makes no sense.

Jamie Foxx is about the only pretext for spending almost an hour and a half with this film. He is an interesting performer no matter what he is doing. The beautiful Gabrielle Union is fine as Nicky, but there is no heat between Quincy and her. The rest of the cast struggles to make this comedy succeed.

Watch it at your own risk.

Finally a film, screenplay, and filmmaker who has the guts to portrays a young, hip, black man as something more than an extra in a rap video or a mindless athlete. Sure, the characters in this film are hopeless man-whores but so are most single 20-something and 30-something men.

Jamie Foxx proves he has the charisma to carry a picture other than a "zany" comedy. I look forward to his serious role in the upcoming Micheal Mann film.

It's about time Hollywood stopped patronizing and insulting the young black male by casting them only as athletes and gangsters. The dialogue was certainly a bit trite at times and the direction and cinematography was just so-so.

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.

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.

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.