Breaking Them Up

"Breaking Them Up" (2020) is a novel, heart-warming, and hilarious representation of teenage determination, innovative thinking, and the charades of a seemingly perfect familial picture. This family comedy movie offers a unique adolescent lens on adult relationships, emphasizing the power of communication and understanding, intertwined with subtle humor and unexpected life learnings.

The director, Marianne Hettinger crafts a charming narrative around the protagonist Damien, a witty eighth-grade boy played by Jakob Wedel. Throughout the storyline, Wedel's performance captures the essence of growing up, grasping the adult world, and hanging in the midst of the awkward balance between childish innocence and teenage curiosity. He tries diligently to fix the world around himself, not fully realizing that sometimes, things aren't just as simple as they seem through his teenage glasses.

The beginning of the film finds Damien puzzled and somewhat frustrated by his perfectly content yet monotonous parents, always playing it safe and leading a predictable married life. Damien's father, Robert, brilliantly portrayed by Stephen Schneider, owns a pizza shop and leads an incredibly average middle-class life. Despite being a loving and devoted father, he embodies the “safe and secure” kind of persona, which seems to add to the overall banality that defines his life.

On the other hand, Kelen Coleman, playing the character of Rachel, Damien's mother, is drenched in dreams of a more artful life; she proves herself quite adept at keeping her ambitions contained for the sake of her family.

As happy as his parents appear, Damien can’t help but picture a more vibrant life for his mother, whom he believes deserves more than the ordinary existence she has come to accept. In an attempt to extract his parents from the rut of comfortable predictability, he embarks on a mission. The teen develops an ambitious yet naive plan to separate his parents, holding onto the belief that they would be happier with other people.

Assisting him in his seemingly absurd mission is his best friend Erin, who adds a shade of pep and letters of encouragement to his plans with her positive pep talks about change and possibilities.

Together, they dive into an adventure that not only tests their creativity and problem-solving skills but also challenges their perspective on adult relationships. Their practices become a labyrinth of deeper questions about happiness, contentment, societal constructions of coupledom, and the blurry line between self-fulfillment and sacrificial love. Their trial-and-error-based endeavors encompass hilariously complicated plans involving matchmaking efforts, miscommunications, and awkward encounters.

"Breaking Them Up" is an intriguing exploration of the complexities of grown-up relationships through the eyes of a teenager. It is as much about the innocence and indiscretion of childhood as it is about the layered realities of adult love and compromises. The film emphasizes the power of communications, understanding, and patience in navigating through the muddy waters of relationships. It’s a delightful journey peppered with laugh-out-loud moments, awkward predicaments, and heartfelt revelations.

The cast's performances merge seamlessly with the engaging narrative, rendering depth to their characters while making the audience invest in their roles. Stephen Schneider and Kelen Coleman offer a realistic glimpse into the life of a married couple effortlessly personifying their characters' nuances. Jakob Wedel, with his brilliant act, is successful in manifesting the essence of a concerned son on a misguided mission. The movie also features some notable performances from Salome Azizi, Thomas Kasp, and others who add layers to the plot while bringing a lot of humor to the storyline.

In an overall estimation, "Breaking Them Up" is an entertaining comedic roller-coaster filled with heartwarming lessons and unexpected surprises. The film's plot reflects a mirror on the timeless theme of love and relationships. The movie, while heartwarmingly comic, weaves in bonds of family, friendship, and love, reminding us of the complexities that lace human relationships yet emphasizes their picturesque beauty.

The dynamic script, bolstered by the charismatic performances of the cast, makes "Breaking Them Up" a delightful film to watch. Whether you are a teenager, an adult, or someone midway, everyone can extract something valuable from the essence of this movie — a gentle blend of humor, realization, relationships, and the beautiful chaos they bring along.