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