The Ex

Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Mia Farrow, Donal Logue
Directed by: Jesse Peretz
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
2006

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Tom (Zach Braff) and Sofia (Amanda Peet) have just had a baby. Tom goes to work for his father-in-law (Charles Grodin) but begins having trouble with a fellow co-worker (Jason Bateman) who used to date Sofia in high school.

Review:

Tim: If Zach Braff isn't directing himself in the movie, then chances are, it isn't very good. Take for example, this movie- not very good. After Garden State, you had to have high hopes for Zach Braff in Hollywood. But, with The Last Kiss and The Ex, he's running perilously short of goodwill. I'll always love him for his role in "Scrubs," but I'm beginning to tire of him on the big screen.

This movie doesn't work because it is just a stupid concept. Yes, I see the humor in the film's plot, but it just doesn't work. I can't understand why people keep hiring Jason Bateman. I don't see any humor or any particular talent in him. He drains my life force every time he;s on screen. He just never seems effective or particularly interesting. He is a big reason why Zach Braff's character has so many problems, but they mostly come from our main character's complete and utter stupidity. Braff is good at playing stupid, but why would you want to watch an hour and a half movie about a guy who does some mind numbingly stupid things, especially when the answers to his problems are so obvious? Amanda Peet doesn't offer much, and grinds the movie to a halt whenever she appears on screen without her costars. Charles Grodin actually gives a good performance, but it's lost in the film's sea of mediocrity.

It is hard to care about a film when its characters are all complete morons. Braff's character gets himself into situations no sane or reasonably well educated individual would ever find themselves. Bateman acts like a plague on the film, ruining every scene he's in. The end of the film is so absurd that we don't even care how it ends.

The Ex is so troublesome to me because I really thought Braff was going to make it in Hollywood. From Garden State, I know he has a great deal of talent. If he keeps wasting it in terrible films like this, I'm afraid it will be too late to redeem himself.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 4



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Garden State, The Last Kiss