'Rules' may be predictable but it's entertaining

By Kathy Cano Murillo
The Arizona Republic

BREAKIN' ALL THE RULES (PG-13) Two and One-Half Stars (Fair-to-Good)

Jamie Foxx and Gabrielle Union star in the romantic comedy "Breakin' All the Rules," which critic Roger Ebert describes as like "a good sitcom." Screen Gems

Didn't think so.

That's the problem with "Breakin' All the Rules" — just like the honorable but masochistic gesture it uses as a thread in the story, the movie doesn't leave an endearing impression of romance.

The premise is cute — Jamie Foxx stars as Quincy Watson, a magazine writer who is jilted by his fiancee (Bianca Lawson) on the night of their engagement party. Depressed and bitter, he scrawls out "The Break Up Manual" on crumpled pieces of paper. It's a step-by-step guide to dumping your significant other, and since this is make-believe movie land, it becomes a best-selling book, turning Quincy into a celebrated anti-relationship expert.

Quincy puts his advice to work helping his friend (Peter MacNicol) and cousin Evan (Morris Chestnut) conniving to leave their lovers, but both plans go off course. Through a series of misinformation and misunderstandings, Quincy falls for Evan's ex, Nicky (Gabrielle Union).

Turns out she is a clever game player, too. They chat about weird body conditions, haircuts and sexual fantasies. The whole time she's pretending to be someone else to get the scoop on Evan, but eventually is softened by Quincy's romantic ways.

This romantic comedy covers the same territory as recent films such as "Two Can Play That Game," "Deliver Us From Eva" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

But this movie repeats all the cliches without much charm of its own. We've already been through this set of instructions and know the outcome: Someone is going to end up breaking all the rules.

Union and Foxx don't make the most intriguing couple, but they do keep this comedy semi-frothy thanks to their radiance and comic timing.

"Breakin' All the Rules" will pass just fine for a Friday night date flick, but like a one-night stand, you won't remember its name the next morning.

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