Breaking Upwards

Zoe (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Daryl (Daryl Wein) are breaking up, but they have a special, ease-the- pain strategy. They'll take ''days off'' from their relationship, during which they'll pursue other people, free of all rancor or jealousy. Surprise — it doesn't work! Neither does this fitfully amusing, mostly annoying rom-com. Wein directed it on a $15,000 budget, and he and his costar are appealing: He's like a geek Bruce Springsteen, she's a junior-brat Kristin Scott Thomas. Breaking Upwards, though, is 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).

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