Pushed to the breaking-up point after their latest 'why can't you do this one little thing for me?' argument, Brooke calls it quits with her boyfriend Gary. What follows is a hilarious series of remedies, war tactics, overtures and undermining tricks – all encouraged by the former couple's friends and confidantes …and the occasional total stranger! When neither ex is willing to move out of their shared apartment, the only solution is to continue living as hostile roommates until one of them reaches breaking point.
Acting
Vaughn's improvised rants vs. Aniston's devastating 'I want you to want to do the dishes.'
Writing
The rare rom-com script that refuses the easy reconciliation.
Director
Peyton Reed
Jennifer Aniston
Brooke Meyers
Vince Vaughn
Gary Grobowski
Joey Lauren Adams
Addie
Ann-Margret
Wendy Meyers
Jason Bateman
Riggleman
Judy Davis
Marilyn Dean
Vincent D'Onofrio
Dennis Grobowski
Jon Favreau
Johnny O
Cole Hauser
Lupus Grobowski
John Michael Higgins
Richard Meyers
Justin Long
Christopher
Ivan Sergei
Carson Wigham
Keir O'Donnell
Date (Paul)
Geoff Stults
Date (Mike)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Vaughn rewrote significant dialogue during production, leading to tension with Aniston who preferred sticking to script. The on-screen friction? Sometimes genuinely off-screen too.
Released at peak 'unlikable female protagonist' panic, the film was criticized for Brooke being 'too demanding' — rewatching now, her asks seem almost embarrassingly reasonable.
US
