Breakin' All the Rules (2004)

Director:

Daniel Taplitz

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Taplitz (written by)

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

When it comes to getting dumped... He wrote the book.

Plot:

Inspired by his fiancée (who dumped him), a man publishes a break-up handbook for men, becoming a bestselling author in the process.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Male Female Relationship | Writer | Mistaken Identity | Female To Male Foot In Crotch

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Jamie Foxx	...	Quincy Watson
Gabrielle Union	...	Nicky Callas
Morris Chestnut	...	Evan Fields
Peter MacNicol	...	Philip Gascon
Jennifer Esposito	...	Rita Monroe
Bianca Lawson	...	Helen Sharp
Jill Ritchie	...	Amy
Samantha Nagel	...	Sandra / Executive Assistant
Grace Chan	...	Secretary
Danny Comden	...	Sam
Octavia Spencer	...	Stylist (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Heather Headley	...	Herself
Patrick Cranshaw	...	Mr. Lynch
Tate Taylor	...	Attendant
Bob Stephenson	...	Ticket Master

Also Known As:

The Break Up Handbook (USA) (working title)
The Sexpert (USA) (working title)
Untitled Jamie Foxx Comedy (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual material/humor and language.

Runtime:

Argentina:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40587)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

During the making of this movie, Jamie Foxx had cut his hair for Ray (2004/I). So in the final scene, Foxx is wearing a wig, which is why his hair looks so much longer.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Evan tells Quincy that Nicky has cut her hair, Quincy sits back in his seat with his right hand over his mouth, but in the next shot, he has his left hand over his mouth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Getaway: Black Monday (2004) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Head to Head

The Break Up Handbook Movie

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.