Jennifer Aniston has fallen for the Windy City.
The love affair started when she and co-star Vince Vaughn filmed their new movie, “The Break-Up,” in Chicago last year. She had another taste of the city this week when she attended the Chicago premiere at the Music Box Theatre for the film, which opens Friday.
“Chicago is my kind of town, yes!” she said during a recent interview in L.A. to promote the movie.
“You know what, I just had a ball there. There’s just something about the people–they’re kind, they are respectful. It’s just a feeling. It’s an energy when you walk through the streets of Chicago, you just feel great! And, as far as the food, the architecture, the theater, the museums–you just have so much,” she said.
“So yeah, I absolutely love it.”
Chicago has proven to be a safe refuge for Aniston, who reportedly started dating Vaughn while they were filming, although neither actor has confirmed the reports. Chicago is home to her BFF Oprah, and it’s also where Vaughn is from.
The film, also written and produced by Vaughn, is about two people who, after breaking up, both refuse to move out of the condo they share. It doesn’t exactly mirror her own breakup with Brad Pitt, but it was shot just after the very public split.
“It’s pretty ironic,” Aniston said when asked what it was like going through a real and fictional breakup simultaneously. “At the time it was something I thought about, you know. You kind of can’t believe. When I first got the phone call, a movie called ‘The Break-Up’ was coming, I kind of laughed and thought, ‘that’s funny.’ “
The on-screen chemistry between Aniston and Vaughn seems effortless. They are as engaging as, well, her “Friends” character, Rachel, and Ross.
“You can kind of tell pretty quickly when you work with somebody–‘Oh, this is going to be easy! Oh, this is going to be a tough one,’ ” Aniston said. “It was so pretty.”
Vaughn agreed.
“When we were developing the screenplay she was the only actor I had in mind because she’s so good with comedy, and she’s also a very good actor,” he said. “And she also has a quality to her that’s just inherent where she’s very likable. There’s a warmth to Jennifer.
“And yes, I did like her right off the bat as a person as well. I think she’s terrific.”
While that’s not exactly an admission the two are in love, it’s about the closest anyone will get with the ever-so-coy Vaughn. He did eventually provide some insight about his connection with Aniston when talking about the keys to a good relationship.
“I think friendship is the biggest thing, and, for me, sense of humor,” Vaughn said. “I like someone that can make me laugh because I like to laugh at stuff–especially myself. … The biggest thing for me is having someone that makes you laugh and that you have a friendship with and a trust with.”
Perhaps this outlook on life and love helps Aniston and Vaughn deal with the intense media scrutiny they draw.
After 10 years on “Friends” and being half of a high-profile marriage, Aniston said she’s just “rather used to it. I don’t like it, but I know it’s out there.”
Vaughn, who was pretty much a small bleep on the paparazzi radar screen until he hooked up with Aniston, said he can’t take it personally.
“You know that they’re doing their job, they’re trying to sell stuff,” he said. “… I feel you have so much more of a focus now on celebrity or being famous and unfortunately less of a focus on making good movies or doing that kind of stuff.
“So for me all that other kind of stuff is just kind of ridiculous on some level to me. It’s not that it makes me mad or I can’t stand it or anything. It comes with the territory, and you just sort of laugh at it.”
Aniston is hopeful that audiences will tap into the brilliance of “The Break-Up’s” script and not the parallels between the story and her personal life.
“It’s a really good, funny and engaging movie. I was very taken by the writing from Day One,” Aniston said. “Working with Vince is just like working with a pro tennis player. I mean he’s such a professional.
“He’s so good at his job. He’s so funny, and he’s such a great actor.”
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DMIKI@AOL.COM
