Breakin' All the Rules (2004)

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

Director:

Daniel Taplitz

Writer:

Daniel Taplitz

Stars:

Jamie Foxx, Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Quincy Watson, after being unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée, pens a "how to" book on breaking up and becomes a best-selling author on the subject. Not wanting his male friends to suffer the same fate, he gives them advice on dumping their mates. A comedy of errors ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

lingerie slip | female to male foot in crotch | male female relationship | love | writer | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual material/humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Break Up Handbook

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,088,577, 16 May 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$11,827,301, 20 June 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems, Breakup Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

When Quincy shows his work to Evan at his house, his sideburns switch from connected as a goatee to regular sideburns from shot to shot.

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Quotes

Helen Sharp: Hello, I'm Helen, Quincy's muse.
Nicky Callas: Oh. I'm Nicky, Quincy's girlfriend.
Rita Monroe: I'm Rita. I just screw him.

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Connections

Referenced in The Getaway: Black Monday (2004)

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Soundtracks

Tipsy
Written by J-Kwon (as Jerrell Jones), Capo (as Joe Kent) and Tarboy (as Mark Williams)
Performed by J-Kwon
Courtesy of Arista Records
Under license from BMG Strategic Marketing Group

User Reviews

Breakin' All the Rules — For those who believe there are rules in dating

Breakin' All the Rules presents the worst part about dating (never mind that it's a stupid concept): that some people believe there are rules, or make up their own.

If you accept that, all in all, it's a funny movie. The story is inventive, even if there's no big surprise. Jamie Foxx plays a very attaching love broken man, the beautiful Gabrielle Union gives us a nice balancing act of sweet, smart, and upset, and both of them are really hot together. Morris Chestnut is great as a wingman, Jennifer Esposito looks born to play the gold digger, and Peter MacNicol seems to have found the sweet spot of the clueless desperate rich media owner.

Some of the acting is over done a bit, especially the psychotic character played by Bianca Lawson. Jamie seems to push his suave a bit too far at time, just as Morris does.

It's good entertainment if you accept the limitation and the subject.