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Plot Summary

The Breaker Upperers (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 90 min · English
Echo score 75
JustWatch #34,094 1
Starring
Rima Te Wiata, Ana Scotney, Brett O'Gorman, Carl Bland, Celia Pacquola, Cohen Holloway

Two friends, Mel and Jen, share a unique and unusual profession born from a shared past heartbreak – they break up couples for money. Fifteen years after being betrayed by the same person, they've built a thriving business, but their close, platonic relationship is tested when an old flame unexpectedly stirs Mel's feelings. This forces both women to examine their unconventional lifestyle and the complicated bond they share, confronting the emotional toll of their choices and the possibility of something more than friendship.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Breaker Upperers
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Breaker Upperers (2019)

Where can you watch The Breaker Upperers? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Breaker Upperers: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Breaker Upperers (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Jen and Mel operate The Breaker Upperers, an unconventional agency based in Auckland dedicated to aiding individuals in breaking up with their partners. Their methods often defy norms, such as when they impersonate police officers to inform a woman named Anna that her husband's corpse is missing—while he is actually hiding in their car.

Having been friends since their twenties due to a shared romantic interest in Joe, who has since returned to town with his family, Mel has moved on while Jen remains fixated on him. Meanwhile, Mel finds herself attracted to a teenage client, Jordan, who is too intimidated to end his relationship with his fierce girlfriend, Sepa. This budding romance causes quite a stir, especially after a confrontation with Sepa and her crew leads to a slap across Jen's face. Not long after, Mel and Jordan begin dating.

Their complex lives take another turn when they encounter Anna once more. Still under the impression that they are law enforcement, Anna seeks their help, and the bond between her and Mel grows, leaving Jen feeling neglected. Eager for answers, Anna presses them for information regarding her husband’s case.

In a comical yet precarious situation, Jen and Mel don police attire and infiltrate a local precinct, only to be mistaken for strippers by an officer. The ensuing embarrassment leads a furious Anna to exit their lives, branding their enterprise as morally questionable. The weight of Anna's reprimand resonates with Mel, prompting her to think about leaving the agency, which infuriates Jen. Bitter memories resurface as Jen reminds Mel of her previous fallout with Joe, blaming her for their split.

Later, during a meaningful dinner, Jen expresses her enduring feelings for Joe, only to be met with ridicule and the acknowledgment of his past infidelities. He insists that while he was a wayward partner before, he's now matured.

Meanwhile, Mel continues her involvement with Jordan. Though he shows genuine affection, she questions his maturity and recognizes he still harbors feelings for Sepa, who has been a pillar of support in his rugby aspirations. A chance encounter at a shop reveals Mel is pregnant, complicating her feelings about Jordan and their future together.

Determined to play matchmaker, Jen seeks out Sepa’s help. At the local pub, as Jordan celebrates securing a rugby contract with the Gold Coast Titans, Mel begins to worry when he suggests giving up the opportunity to stay by her side during her pregnancy. However, Sepa steps in, expressing her reformed feelings for Jordan before serenading him along with her posse. In a powerful moment of friendship, Jen dedicates a song to Mel.

Ultimately, Mel encourages Jordan to recommit to his rugby career while promising to support one another, leading to a heartfelt reconciliation with Sepa. As the dust settles, Jen and Mel mend their friendship, transforming their agency to assist clients with both break-ups and make-ups. The film closes on a hopeful note, revealing Anna and Mel have reconciled, while Jordan thrives in the Gold Coast, cherishing moments with his infant daughter.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 14:53

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Plot questions answered

The Breaker Upperers Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Breaker Upperers (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Mel start dating her client Jordan?

Mel develops feelings for Jordan despite him being a teenage client who hired her to break up with his girlfriend Sepa. She's drawn to his vulnerability and the attention he gives her, though she later questions whether his maturity level is sufficient for a serious relationship, especially after discovering her pregnancy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Mel being charmed by Jordan's sincere affection, which planted the seeds for their romantic connection.

  • mel jordan relationship
  • dating client
  • teenage romance
Q2

Why does Jen still have feelings for Joe after 15 years?

Jen never got over Joe since their twenties when they both had feelings for him. While Mel moved on, Jen remained fixated on the past. Their shared history and Joe's return to town with his family reignites these unresolved feelings, leading Jen to finally confess her emotions during dinner.

Foreshadowing: From the first mention of Joe, it's clear Jen's feelings haven't changed while Mel has clearly moved on.

  • jen joe love triangle
  • unfinished romance
  • past relationship
Q3

Why does Mel encourage Jordan to take the rugby contract despite her pregnancy?

Mel recognizes that Jordan's rugby career with the Gold Coast Titans is a significant opportunity that could change his life. Rather than let him sacrifice his dreams for her, she encourages him to pursue his career while promising they'll support each other through her pregnancy, showing her maturity and genuine care for his future.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Sepa has been supporting Jordan's rugby aspirations, indicating how important the sport is to his identity.

  • jordan rugby contract
  • mel pregnancy
  • gold coast titans
Q4

What causes the fight between Jen and Mel?

The fight erupts after Anna confronts them about their morally questionable methods, causing Mel to reconsider her future with the agency. Jen becomes furious and brings up the past, blaming Mel for the fallout with Joe years ago. This reveals deep-seated resentment about Jen's belief that Mel's actions destroyed her chance with Joe.

Foreshadowing: Tension builds as Jen feels neglected while Mel grows closer to Anna, foreshadowing the eventual explosion.

  • jen mel argument
  • friendship conflict
  • joe betrayal
Q5

How does Anna find out the truth about The Breaker Upperers?

After Jen and Mel infiltrate the precinct dressed as police officers, they're mistaken for strippers, leading to an embarrassing situation. When Anna learns about this incident, she realizes their entire operation is fraudulent and confronts them, calling their enterprise morally questionable and ending her relationship with them.

Foreshadowing: Anna's trust was built on the false assumption they were genuine law enforcement, making the reveal inevitable.

  • anna discovers truth
  • police impersonation
  • breakup agency exposed
Q6

Why does Jen help Jordan get back with Sepa?

Despite the earlier confrontation where Sepa's crew slapped Jen, she realizes Jordan still has feelings for Sepa and that Sepa genuinely supports his rugby career. Jen orchestrates the reunion because she wants Jordan to be happy and successful, showing her capacity for forgiveness and genuine care for clients' wellbeing beyond just breakups.

Foreshadowing: Sepa's support of Jordan's rugby dreams was established earlier, showing their connection was real.

  • jen matchmaking
  • jordan sepa reunion
  • rugby career support
Q7

What happened between Mel and Joe in the past?

Both Mel and Jen were interested in Joe in their twenties, and some event involving Mel caused a fallout that also affected Jen's relationship with Joe. While the exact details aren't specified, Jen blames Mel for ruining her chances with him, and Mel has clearly moved on while Jen hasn't.

Foreshadowing: Their shared romantic history with Joe establishes the foundation of their complicated dynamic.

  • mel joe past
  • joe betrayal
  • twenty something romance
Q8

Why do Jen and Mel transform their agency to include make-ups?

After going through various client situations and mending their own friendship, Jen and Mel realize their services can help people in both directions, as painful as breakups can be, helping people get together can also be meaningful. This transformation reflects their personal growth and the strengthening of their partnership.

Foreshadowing: The film shows multiple relationships in flux, demonstrating that love isn't always about endings.

  • breaker upperers transformation
  • breakup makeup service
  • new business direction
Q9

Why does Anna reconcile with Mel at the end?

Despite their fallout after the precinct incident, the ending reveals Anna and Mel have reconciled. This likely came after Mel's personal growth and the agency's transformation into a more legitimate service, showing that Mel's genuine connection with Anna during their earlier interactions led to forgiveness.

Foreshadowing: The bond between Mel and Anna was genuine even during the deception, planting seeds for reconciliation.

  • anna mel friendship
  • reconciliation ending
  • forgiving deception
Q10

Why does Mel keep her pregnancy secret initially?

Mel discovers her pregnancy at a shop but doesn't immediately share the news. She's uncertain about her relationship with Jordan given his age and maturity level, and she's unsure how his continued feelings for Sepa might affect their future together. Her uncertainty about Jordan's readiness for fatherhood makes her hesitant to reveal the news.

Foreshadowing: Mel's questioning of Jordan's maturity earlier in the film explains her hesitation.

  • mel pregnancy
  • jordan fatherhood
  • relationship uncertainty

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Breaker Upperers, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Breaker Upperers tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quirky friendship comedies like The Breaker Upperers

Comedies centered on the hilarious chaos of best friends in an unusual business. If you liked the hilarious bond between Mel and Jen in The Breaker Upperers, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features comedies about best friend duos, their zany business ventures, and the lighthearted chaos that defines their relationship, all with a steady, upbeat pace.

  • comic
  • quirky
  • chaotic
  • upbeat
  • sentimental
  • friendship
  • Tone: light, comic, quirky
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a pair of friends whose close, sometimes codependent, bond is the driving force of the plot. Their unconventional career or shared project leads to comedic set pieces, but the core of the story is how their friendship is tested and ultimately strengthened by these external (and internal) pressures.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their focus on platonic friendship as the primary relationship, a light and comic tone, and a plot built around a series of humorous, often professionally-based, scenarios that highlight the characters' quirky chemistry.

Movies about growing a conscience like The Breaker Upperers

Characters with dubious jobs find their hearts, leading to positive change. Fans of The Breaker Upperers who enjoyed seeing Mel and Jen's moral evolution will appreciate these films. Discover comedies and light dramas where characters start with cynical jobs but experience heartfelt growth, leading to a happy, uplifting conclusion about doing the right thing.

  • bittersweet
  • sentimental
  • upbeat
  • comic
  • growth
  • redemption
  • Tone: light, bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a character or duo who profit from others' misfortune or emotional vulnerability. A personal connection or pivotal event forces them to confront the ethical implications of their actions, sparking a journey of self-reflection that culminates in them redeeming their profession or finding a new, more positive path.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies through a specific character arc: the transition from cynicism to compassion. They share a light emotional weight, a primarily comedic tone with bittersweet moments, and an ending that is unambiguously happy and morally reaffirming.

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Every angle

The Breaker Upperers (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Breaker Upperers in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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