Spring Break
Predictability pulls 'The Ex' down
By: Aatish Nath
Issue date: 5/25/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 1:16 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 1:15 AM EST
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 1:16 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 1:15 AM EST
"The Ex" is one of those movies that makes you wonder why you saw it. It's not bad, but it's easy to predict and is worth watching if one has nothing else to do.
The movie revolves around Tom Reilly (Zach Braff) who is fired from his chef's job in New York, and so takes up his wife's, Sofia, (Amanda Peet) father's job offer in small town Ohio. There, at his new job, he comes across wheelchair bound Chip (Jason Bateman), his wife's one-time fling and the funniest character in the movie.
If you think the actors read like a who's who of the television world, there's more to come. There are brief scenes with Amy Adams and Fred Armisen (of "Saturday Night Live"), Romany Malco (of "Weeds"), Marin Hinkle (of "Two and a Half Men") and Donal Logue (of "Knights of Prosperity").
It soon becomes apparent that Chip is still in love with Sofia and is doing all he can to get her back while making Tom's life unbearable. Things get off to a bad start when Tom throws Chip the imaginary company ball that Chip can't get to, being in a wheelchair. As a paraplegic, Chip takes Tom to play wheelchair basketball because he's being upstaged at work by Tom's ideas. In addition, Chip is all the while trying to get closer to Sofia.
Jason Bateman gives an amazing comedic performance, which steals the focus from any of the other actors. He plays Chip to perfection and even makes it easy to see his love for Sofia without once letting us see through his own performance.
Though Zach Braff is a good actor in this movie, this is clearly Jason Bateman's movie. Seeing Braff play the lovable loser on TV, most people will be looking for a change from his usual role. This isn't the one.
Amanda Peet on the other hand doesn't seem to have much of a role in the movie and is wasted in this role, especially after seeing her on TV's "Studio 60." She never seems to get into character and never once exhibits any maternal instincts when pregnant or after.
The supporting characters all get their time in the sun, and this is one of the main reasons to see the movie (there's even an appearance by Paul Rudd).
Overall, the movie is one that is predictable from the outcome, and tries too hard to get you to laugh, most of the time falling flat. There are moments of comedy, but the rest can easily be inferred. I'd recommend The Ex if you've seen all the bigger summer movies and are still looking for something else to see.
The movie revolves around Tom Reilly (Zach Braff) who is fired from his chef's job in New York, and so takes up his wife's, Sofia, (Amanda Peet) father's job offer in small town Ohio. There, at his new job, he comes across wheelchair bound Chip (Jason Bateman), his wife's one-time fling and the funniest character in the movie.
If you think the actors read like a who's who of the television world, there's more to come. There are brief scenes with Amy Adams and Fred Armisen (of "Saturday Night Live"), Romany Malco (of "Weeds"), Marin Hinkle (of "Two and a Half Men") and Donal Logue (of "Knights of Prosperity").
It soon becomes apparent that Chip is still in love with Sofia and is doing all he can to get her back while making Tom's life unbearable. Things get off to a bad start when Tom throws Chip the imaginary company ball that Chip can't get to, being in a wheelchair. As a paraplegic, Chip takes Tom to play wheelchair basketball because he's being upstaged at work by Tom's ideas. In addition, Chip is all the while trying to get closer to Sofia.
Jason Bateman gives an amazing comedic performance, which steals the focus from any of the other actors. He plays Chip to perfection and even makes it easy to see his love for Sofia without once letting us see through his own performance.
Though Zach Braff is a good actor in this movie, this is clearly Jason Bateman's movie. Seeing Braff play the lovable loser on TV, most people will be looking for a change from his usual role. This isn't the one.
Amanda Peet on the other hand doesn't seem to have much of a role in the movie and is wasted in this role, especially after seeing her on TV's "Studio 60." She never seems to get into character and never once exhibits any maternal instincts when pregnant or after.
The supporting characters all get their time in the sun, and this is one of the main reasons to see the movie (there's even an appearance by Paul Rudd).
Overall, the movie is one that is predictable from the outcome, and tries too hard to get you to laugh, most of the time falling flat. There are moments of comedy, but the rest can easily be inferred. I'd recommend The Ex if you've seen all the bigger summer movies and are still looking for something else to see.
