Stream It Or Skip It: ‘We Broke Up’ On Hulu, Where A Couple Pretends They’re Still Together For A Wedding

How many great rom-coms have been set at weddings? Flicks like Plus One, 27 Dresses, and The Wedding Singer have taken us to more weddings than we can count, the Julia Roberts canon of My Best Friend’s Wedding and Runaway Bride are bonafide classics, and beloved comedies like Wedding Crashers and Meet the Parents also cemented what kind of movie magic weddings have to offer. We Broke Up, now streaming on Hulu, sends its recently split central couple to a wedding – with some surprising results. 

WE BROKE UP: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Lori (Aya Cash, You’re The Worst, The Boys) and Doug (William Jackson Harper, The Good Place, Midsommar) have been together for 10 years. When Doug unexpectedly pops the question while they’re waiting for Chinese takeout, Lori has a less than ideal reaction, and the two break up. With Lori’s sister Bea (Sarah Bolger) about to get married, however, the two decide to keep their breakup a secret so not as to overshadow the weekend. This (predictably) leads to some uncomfortable moments, like switching from their king suite to a duck-themed cabin with bunk beds, kissing at Bea’s request, and putting on a loving show for the rest of the family.

The ex-couple soon learns that keeping the secret isn’t as easy as they hoped, however; when other interested parties flirt with them, it’s hard to shake it off, and the constant prying questions from family members doesn’t help matters. With an uncertain future ahead, Lori and Doug must face the reality of their situation and evaluate what happily-ever-after really means to the both of them.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: We Broke Up has that great indie rom com vibe and may remind you a bit of Plus One, The Incredible Jessica James, Ruby Sparks, and What If. 

Performance Worth Watching: Cash and Harper are wonderful, but I was totally won over by The Righteous Gemstones player Tony Cavalero, who steals all of his scenes as Bea’s endearing fiancé Jayson. Rather than leaning into playing Jayson as a total ditz, Cavalero injects some real heart into him, even when he’s intended to be the comedic relief. There’s an offbeat charm to Cavalero, one we’ve seen on Gemstones but gets a chance to be a little more grounded this time around. While all the red flags around Jayson are valid – he’s only known Bea a month, he’s divorced with a 9-year-old – Cavalero makes it obvious why Bea (and anyone else) might fall for this dork.

Memorable Dialogue: Despite some pretty funny bits, I really found We Broke Up to be its strongest during its most silent moments. The looks between Cash and Harper say more than words ever could.

Sex and Skin: There’s some cut-to-black reconciliation sex and some pretty mild foolin’ around, but that’s about it.

Our Take: We Broke Up works because its performances do. This isn’t to say the script isn’t good, but it’s definitely a big reason why the film never reaches its full potential. Until We Broke Up‘s final act, it seems like Cash and Harper are carrying most of the weight of the film, charming us even when the script doesn’t quite know what it’s doing. Cash and Harper definitely pull from their You’re the Worst and The Good Place roots, both with their comedic sensibilities and portraying thirtysomethings at a confusing impasse. It’s fun to watch them opposite Folger and Cavalero, whose bubbly, giddy performances serve as a great foil to the more stoic, contemplative turns from Cash and Harper. It’s these dynamics and supporting turns that help make We Broke Up as watchable as it is.

It’s puzzling that We Broke Up doesn’t seem to have a ton of interest in giving its characters much depth, despite some seriously game performers. It skates on the surface through the first act, dipping its toes into some funny stuff like Paul Bunyon Day (I got some You’re the Worst Sunday Funday vibes from this) and finally finding some weight with about 30 minutes left in the flick. It may take a little while to get there, but the idea that happily-ever-afters can come in different forms for different people is a refreshing rom-com message, and We Broke Up delivers it with a heartfelt hug and a wistful smile.

Our Call: STREAM IT. We Broke Up might indulge in a genre cliché too many, but the solid third act and the chemistry between Cash and Harper is enough to make it well worth your time.

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.

Where to stream We Broke Up