The Ex (2006)

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

After losing his job as a New York City cook, lovable slacker-type Zach Braff (as Tom Reilly) finally decides to accept an offer from his wife's father to work for an advertising agency in Ohio. Pretty pregnant Amanda Peet (as Sofia) is a lawyer, but wants to stay home and care for the couple's baby. Arriving in their new suburban home, the trio are greeted by Ms. Peet's parents Charles Grodin (as Bob Kowalski) and Mia Farrow (as Amelia). Mr. Grodin reveals his son-in-law will be trained by Peet's ex-boyfriend from high school, "handicapable" paraplegic Jason Bateman (as Chip Sanders)...In the workplace, Mr. Braff makes a "faux pas" by tossing an imaginary ball to Mr. Bateman, who can't jump from an unseen wheelchair. Taking a break, Braff next eats Bateman's yogurt. The two men become rivals at work, then Braff learns Bateman wants to rekindle his romance with Peet...This film appears to be available in different versions, and reading reviews and/or comments is likely to give away important plot points. My preference is for the "Unrated" version. Most paraplegic characters are heroic; it always seems like the villainous ones shockingly get up and walk, so it's refreshing to leave the story's "villain" in a wheelchair. However, the cheerleader "dream sequence" is extractable, and some very funny "deleted scenes" should have stayed.Some of the excised material could be considered "politically incorrect" - but, with so much raunchy material out and about, "The Ex" looks more sabotaged than sanctified. Best are director Jesse Peretz' scenes spoofing a touchy-feely "New Age" workplace. Grodin and Ms. Farrow are great together. In fact, Grodin's funny/sad portrayal of an older man trying to adapt to the modern workplace is marvelous; in a layered performance, you can watch his strained façade peel away. Grodin is "Supporting Actor" award-worthy. And, Bateman makes the most of his more tenuous role.******* The Ex (2/8/07) Jesse Peretz ~ Zach Braff, Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet, Charles Grodin

This movie, without any exceptions really, gets steadily worse and worse until the point it becomes simply tedious to watch and frankly insulting. The clichés rattle out thick and fast, the predictability is so straightforward you don't even feel good when you get it right 10 out of 10 times and the character decisions are so ridiculous you'd be let down if you saw them on a nickelodeon show for 5 year olds.The saving grace is certainly Zach Braff, who we've learnt from Graden Sate and quite a few occasions in Scrubs, has a great ability to serious things up brilliantly whilst still having us consistently at fits at his antics and excellent line delivery. He can make the most straightforward line seem absolutely hilarious, Scriptwriters must love him. He has few chances to shine on this occasion but the chances he gets he ceases hole-heartedly. Amanda Peet and Jason Bateman were less than impressive and everyone else was just plain awful. It wasn't their fault mind you. They were given next to nothing to work realistically with.It can be tricky with these sorts of movies to keep the humor up and the story believable so the odd slip up is more than excusable. But not to this extent and particularly not when it's not even that funny. Braff fans are the only ones who will benefit from this movie and even they may feel slightly let down. Everyone else would be well advised to avoid at all costs.

Tom and Sofia are a couple in the city when Tom looses his job. They decided to move to Ohio where Sofia's parents are and Tom takes a job in the family owned ad business. He's working under Chip, a guy in a wheelchair that Sofia used to date. Chip doesn't really care for Tom and is always trying to make him look bad, such as in a wheelchair basketball game. Tom becomes suspicious of Chip, is he really paralyzed? There really isn't many laughs in this. It's rather boring and most of the jokes fall flat.FINAL VERDICT: I'd skip this one.

The Ex is the worst film I have seen in a long time.The element which most bothered me from this movie is that three brilliant actors (Zach Braff,Jason Bateman and the great Amanda Peet) were criminally wasted in a stupid and tedious "comedy".I still do not understand how this movie got the green-light.This is one of the most unfunny comedies I have EVER seen.This movie is so bad that it does not deserve a long analysis.I just have to say it's an enormously tedious and stupid comedy.This piece of repulsive crap should immediately be destroyed.My recommendation would be this : do not even steal this movie.You have been warned.