Rupture mode d'emploi

Daniel Tablitz's 'Breakin' All the Rules' has some genuinely funny moments. It's not a classic but most of it is quite enjoyable. It sticks to the main point. I liked the idea that the main character is a man who's writing a self-help book about broken relationships. Usually such characters are played by women so this felt fresh and cool. The problem is that some of the jokes lose their touch as they are too stretched out but the confusion and mistaken identity bits were quite funny. The film highly depends on its cast. Jamie Foxx is a natural performer where comedy is concerned thus here is no exception. The cute Gabrielle Union is decent but she doesn't convince in the sequences where Nicky's angry. Moreover the chemistry between her and Foxx seems more as though they are friends rather than two people who are strongly attracted to each other. Jennifer Esposito springs a surprise as a semi-dominatrix seductress. Morris Chestnut does not impress and Peter MacNicol is alright. Bianca Lawson provides a few chuckles as the bitchy girlfriend. Overall, this isn't among the funniest movies but it may be worth giving a chance on a relaxed evening. For me the most hilarious sequences were Helen's irritation with Quincy's dog and what Quincy does to 'solve' the problem, the party sequence where all 6 of the lead cast come together for a showdown, Nicky and Mr. Lynch...and there are a few more.

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.

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.

"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.

Breakin' All the Rules (2004) is a movie I recently rewatched on Tubi for the first time in a long time. The storyline follows a single man who helps his best friend cover for an impending breakup by meeting his friend's girlfriend at a bar. However, an unexpected attraction forms between the girlfriend and the friend, breaking unspoken rules and complicating all of their relationships.

Written and directed by Daniel Taplitz (Nightlife), the film stars Jamie Foxx (Ray), Gabrielle Union (Bring It On), Morris Chestnut (The Best Man), Peter MacNicol (Ghostbusters II), and Bianca Lawson (Save the Last Dance).

Despite its impressive cast, the movie doesn't quite live up to its potential. Gabrielle Union looks stunning, and Morris Chestnut delivers a solid, authentic performance. Peter MacNicol is amusing as the quirky villain, but Jamie Foxx's over-the-top expressions and mannerisms feel excessive at times, detracting from the film's humor. The comedy leans on predictable hijinks and lacks the sharp wit it needed to stand out.

In conclusion, Breakin' All the Rules is an average comedy that misses the mark. I'd score it a 5/10.