Breaking Upwards

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Breaking up is painful -- but does it have to be? Subdued individually by their relationship yet scared of life apart, Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein set out to meticulously orchestrate and manage their split into painlessness in this docu-drama. The New York couple's struggles attain an extra air of authenticity as they expose -- pretty much uncensored -- every bit of their four-year, complex and codependent union for audiences to witness.
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Netflix Rating: 3.1
Rotten Tomatoes: Fresh 65%: No consensus yet.
Fresh: 11 Rotten: 6 Rotten Tomatoes page
Top Rotten Tomatoes Critics: Scenes meant to play as breezy and hip are more often just annoying. full review

Tom Russo, Boston Globe

Breaking Upwards has its amusing and touching moments, but we're left wondering just what we're supposed to make of it all. full review

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

Comes knocking at the door like a wolf in sheep's clothing, draping reality in a fictional romantic comedy about a twentysomething NYC couple named Daryl and Zoe whose relationship is coming apart. full review

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

While Alex Bergman's photography is often impressive, Wein's editing has the short attention span of a Hollywood movie, without the accompanying cocaine rush. full review

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Much ado about a very rote situation, with a hammy excess of New York Jewish shtick (lead offender: Andrea Martin as Zoe's kvetching mom). full review

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The duo's longtime partnership imparts a palpable, lived-in intimacy, but lack of careful story construction sometimes hobbles the narrative's comic flow. full review

Ronnie Scheib, Variety

Reportedly drawing on their own romantic relationship, Wein and Lister-Jones have co-written a low-budget romantic comedy that's smart and lively and, in the end, quite affecting. full review

Chuck Wilson, Village Voice

Like many relationships, Breaking Upwards starts in bed and ends on the street. The journey in between, however, feels as new as anything a tiny budget and a boatload of talent could produce.

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Watching this movie is no more interesting than talking to any random New York couple about what makes them tick. full review

Kyle Smith, New York Post

full review by Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood Reporter