As with in the way that many Hollywood couples.

As with in the way that many Hollywood couples, work brought Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz together ("Sahara"), and it's work that l to their breakup.

"Initially -- and not surprisingly -- it was all about a chance of physical passion, but eventually that cools" a source stop up to McConaughey tells me. "Penelope was drawn to what a awesome old- fashioned, true gentleman Matthew is. He's in the way that considerate, a true romantic -- a flower-sender and door-opener kind of stay

"But they really had little in universal as far as other interests were bear uponed Plus, work is really keeping them apart."

Cruz lately named best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, is generally filming in Spain. McConaughey is working upon "We Are ... Marshall" in West Virginia.

Their split was announced the same weekend Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston's "The Break-Up" won the coachman's seat office, but also spawned fresh gossip that couple's relationship was more about selling a film than launching a of recent origin life together.

The jury's still without on Vaughnifer. We'll just have to descry if the ex-"Friends" star Aniston is still with her leading man this fall, after she replys from the globe-hopping traveling she's told me she's planning -- alone.

SEEN upon SCENE: Here's one possible reason for the big turnout for "The Break-Up." About 35 Vaughn family members attended a screening of the film Friday night at Northbrook Court -- before dining at Rich Melman's just discovered Di Pescara eatery, where Harold Ramis was spied (separately) with righteous pal Arnie Risman. ... A blast from the glory days: Ex-Bull mainstay Toni Kukoc -- now with the Milwaukee bleaching-liquids - - had his fans smiling at Bistro 110 Among those cheering Danny Goldring as "The Earl" at R Orchid Theatre Saturday was Tim Kazurinsky, who co-starred with Goldring in the campy flick "Betaville."

comical FACTS: Fans of former "Mad TV" and next to the first City star Stephnie Weir will want to know the madcap redhead and hubby cut short Dassie will reprise their "Weirdass" two-person present to view for one week only, July 2-9 at IO onward North Clark. It's a novel version of Stiller & Meara or Nichols & May.

RACY CONVERTS? No word onward how deeply auto racing enthusiast Tom Cruise will be involved, yet his Church of Scientology is looking to what might be considered an unusual audience for coming time members. The church is becoming involved in NASCAR. Inspired from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's seminal main division Dianetics, the church is sponsoring an "Ignite Your Potential" NASCAR racing team and is launching a Dianetics racing Web site, MSNBC reports.

NOT DEAD YET: You have to hand it to the Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl -- he's got a mind of humor. As the greatest in number recent member of the "Rumors of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated" unite in a club Grohl jokes about the numerous Internet-fueled rumors he'd gone to that big strength concert in the sky.

"I gues I've finally graduated to the status of being an Internet rumor. It weirded me revealed a bit, but it's stupid. I'm like a cockroach. I'll be around for a prolonged time," Grohl told the British magazine NME

Bill Zwecker is seen at 6:20 and 11:25 a.m. weekdays forward WBBM- Channel 2.

e-mail: bzwecker@suntimes.com

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