The Ex (Full Screen Edition) |  | Director: Jesse Peretz
Actors: Jason Bateman, Mia Farrow, Charles Grodin, Donal Logue, Amanda Peet
Studio: Weinstein Company
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
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Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 75890
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 89 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WEID80117D
UPC: 796019801171
EAN: 0796019801171
ASIN: B000NDJGTU
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Movie DVD
Amazon.com
When a movie sits on the shelf for a year, the consensus is that it must be a dud. Formerly known as Fast Track, Jesse Peretz's third and most commercial feature may not be a dud, but it comes perilously close. With the success of Garden State, it was inevitable that The Ex would be marketed as a romantic comedy, except it isn't. Sure, there's romance between Tom (Zach Braff) and his pregnant wife, Sofia (Amanda Peet, Igby Goes Down), but this is mostly a black comedy about the ad game, like How To Get Ahead in Advertising. After their baby is born, Sofia puts her legal career on hold to care for little Oliver, but then Tom loses his job as chef (Paul Rudd cameos as his boss), so they move from New York to Ohio where her father, Bob (Charles Grodin in fine fettle), secures Tom a gig as assistant associate creative at his New Age-style ad agency. Their money woes are a thing of the past, but new problems await. The biggest is creative director Chip (Jason Bateman), who briefly dated Sofia in high school. A longtime wheelchair user, Chip resents Tom for stealing his limelight--and for his relationship with Sofia. So, he sets out to turn everyone against his competition (their co-workers include SNL's Fred Armisen and Amy Poehler). Because Chip has such a genial manner, Tom's complaints strike others as unjustified paranoia. By the time he figures out a way to pay Chip back, it's hard to care after all the pratfalls and bits of funny business that fall flat more often than not. There are worse ways to spend 89 minutes, but any random episode of Scrubs or Arrested Development offers more laughs. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
 This is a Terrific Movie. I don't understand all of the negative comments. February 17, 2010
Carol Lachman
This movie is a piece of cinematic joy! First off,the acting is supreme throughout. They don't get any better than Jason Bateman. (Visit JUNO, as a for instance.)The child actor is fantastic and I think we will be seeing some great things from him in the future.
I would term this motion picture as overall "camp" (viz Susan Sontag). The plot moves along with absurdist pleasure. Certain scenes are particularly priceless., i.e. the "Mommy Classes"; the father-in-law, Charles Grodin, throughout. His character is well developed as when he exclaims in sudden shock what seems to be totally "out of character" (the lamp that later almost burns the office down burns his hand first.) Then how about the mountain bike guy? Subtle, subtle, but oh, so good. The basketball game as another for instance with the locker scene that follows. Each of these tiny episodes is a gem.(Mia Farrow is a parody of Mia Farrow, as always, though.) I fear that the majority of "critics" here are merely seeking and therefore receiving only surface pleasure if that and moronic perplexity throughout.{Tea Party anyone?} Don't try to be Anthony Lane. Most of you aren't. Just enjoy. "The Ex" is one of the best flicks I have seen in many a moon. But then I also watch "Love Actually," ad infinitum (the British masterpiece with Liam Neesom and Alan Rickman..) I spend many a night with John Osborne as well. (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Look Back in Anger.)) So-- I guess it is all a matter of taste. Before I forget, also indulge your sensibilities with "Sideways.," another much maligned film.It will cause you to want to head straight for the California Wine Country and stars the incomparable and much underrated actor, Paul Giamatti.
For those of you who have given this movie a bum rap,{"The Ex} try again. You may be most pleasantly surprised.Another thought before I exit == Are there any movies with fine acting like "The Ex" but that I cannot abide? Indeed -- by all means avoid "The Savages" especially if you are over 65 years old and it is late at night. Very morbid. BUT DO NOT MISS "Julie and Julia" though the subplot will make you loathe New Jersey lofts, "cute" cooks as well as all marriages of those under 35. The young married couple here are boring, boring, and unconvincing beyond words. And finally, "The Devil Wore Prada." Awfully fine, but then anything with another underrated actor, Stanley Tucci, is a sensation for the senses.. Oh, one final clinker I almost forgot -- "Heartburn" but then most of Nora Ephron is, Julie and Julia" to the contrary and "When Harry Met Sally" Read all of my reviews when I get around to writing them! Have to take my pug Dudley for a walk now.
 Even its talented cast cannot save this movie's mediocre writing from stumbling all over the place October 23, 2009
Caitlin D. Neely (USA)
The Ex (directed by Jesse Peretz) is a romantic comedy that induces a few chuckles but ultimately doesn't do its talented cast justice.
Tom Reilly (Zach Braff) is a slacker who can't find a career he loves. When he loses his job as chef the day his wife, Sofia Kowalski (Amanda Peet), has their baby, he is forced to move from New York City to small town Ohio. He reluctantly takes a job at an ad agency where her father (Charles Grodin) works. He meets Chip Sanders (Jason Bateman); a self-absorbed creative consultant who knew Sofia in high school and has an unhealthy crush on her. Tom must learn to survive in the corporate world and against Chip who becomes a rival at work and in his personal life.
The humor is average at best. There are a few moments that are funny but most of the writing lets the cast down. Zach Braff, Amanda Peet and Jason Bateman are talented comedic actors. Even they cannot save this movie from its own mediocre writing.
Braff's character is very one-dimensional. He does redeem himself when he his taking care of his son but most of the time he acts like a screw up who can't get his act together. The ending is promising for his character, though. It makes me believe he might finally get some thing right. But I'm not holding my breath.
Chip Sanders is as evil of a corporate rival as they get. He is sadistic, cruel and there are no qualities in his personality that compels me to like him. I feel this also makes Sanders appear one-dimensional. It would be interesting for him to reveal anything that garners sympathy.
Amy Adams, Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd are all delightful actors that pop up in the movie. Poehler was great. She leaves me wondering why her character doesn't show up more. She is hilarious with the lines she is given (as are the rest of them). Any excuse to give Poehler more lines and air time would make me happy.
 The Good Guy (and klutz) Wins! September 29, 2009
Loyd E. Eskildson (Phoenix, AZ.)
Zach Braff marries over his head, can't keep a job, and as a last resort, goes to work for his father-in-law )Charles Grodin) at a really weird advertising agency. There he's made subordinate to an old flame (Donal Logue) of his wife (Amanda Peete) who has been living as a pretend paraplegic in a wheelchair for sympathy. Logue's objective is to drive Zach out of the company and take back up with Amanda; en route he sabotages Zach's new ad campaign idea, and Zach accidentally starts a fire destroying the tape with the compelling ad approach just when it's needed most. To make matters worse, the kid in the ad decides he's not going to record it anymore. The resulting stress causes Zach and Amanda to break up.
Fortunately, despite several additional klutzy moves, Logue exposes himself as an impostor, and goes off to a supposed new position in Barcelona that Zach fakes a job offer to him from. The good news is that Zach's promotional tape is recreated after Amanda talks the young lad into it, Zach finds his calling and starts his own ad agency, and he's reunited with Amanda.
The DVD is a very edited version of the movie, the unedited one just aired on Comedy Central September 28, 2009
Valentina Chimino (California)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It is weird but this "unrated" DVD is really edited, which you would think would be the opposite case. I am glad I watched this on basic cable, because I saw the whole movie, not the weirdly edited version where no one knows if Chip can walk or not. I can understand why people would give this movie low ratings because they haven't seen the real movie. I see good ratings on movie sites until when the DVD came out, then there are bad reviews. So it might be the editing, right?
I liked Zach Braff in this. Jason Bateman was great too. A couple SNL people and Paul Rudd make some nice, if not short, appearances.
Not having seen the edited version, I can only go with what I read, so I beg you to not rent this on DVD and try to catch it on Comedy Central instead, where I do believe they show the whole movie intact. It is a funny movie. Not the best movie I have even since, but worth checking out.
 Fails as a comedy August 22, 2009
ButlerSingh (California)
Biggest problem with `The Ex' is that it tries to be a comedy movie but unfortunately all its jokes are highly predictable. You can sense the punch line as soon as the scene starts. Too much stress (and most of the `funny' moments) are between Jason Bateman and Zach Braff and movie fails to utilize the comedy timings of Amanda Peet (as evident in `Whole Nine Yards' movies) and Amy Adams (Enchanted).
After spending almost 90 minutes with `The Ex' it still feels like an episode of a regular sitcom. It looks like filmmakers decided to put together this amazing ensemble cast (Zach Braff. Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Mia Farrow, Amy Poehler, Amy Adams and even Paul Rudd) and then just tried to create a script around these characters. End result was pretty pathetic.
Overall, I think Jason Bateman did a pretty good job with his character. Amy Adams was amazing in her small role. One highlight of the movie was Paul Rudd (who was there only for a single scene) and he was simply amazing. His few minutes of appearance were more memorable then over an hour of Zach Braff. Watching Zach Braff was like watching another re-run of Scrubs on TV.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
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