Rating: Not Rated
Starring:
Zach Braff as Tom Reilly
Amanda Peet as Sofia Kowalski
Jason Bateman as Chip Sanders
Charles Grodin as Bob Kowalski
Mia Farrow as Amelia Kowalski
Lucian Maisel as Wesley
Donal Logue as Don Wollebin
Amy Poehler as Carol Lane
Fred Armisen as Manny
Bob Stephenson as Doug
Josh Charles as Forrest Mead
Marin Hinkle as Karen
Yul Vazquez as Paco
Paul Rudd as Leo
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Alternate Ending
Blooper Reel
Other Info:
Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish Language
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“Zach Braff (‘Scrubs,’ ‘Garden State’) and Jason Bateman (‘Arrested Development’) battle it out in this hilarious comedy about work, women and wheelchairs. Braff plays a likeable slacker husband with a knack for getting fired but a nose for smelling a rat. When he suspects his new, “handicapable” job mentor (Bateman) is plotting against him and lusting after his wife, our hero goes to war. Featuring Amanda Peet (‘The Whole Nine Yards’) and Charles Grodin, ‘The Ex’ is an outrageous comic ride that will leave you rolling with laughter!”
Mini-Review:
At first glance, “The Ex” looks like a pretty good movie. It features my favorite actors like Jason Bateman, Zach Braff, and Amanda Peet. It also features good secondary cast members like Charles Grodin, Amy Poehler, and Paul Rudd. But there are signs on the surface that indicate deeper problems. First of all, it had a major name change from “Fast Track” to “The Ex.” It was also pushed back half a year and finally released on May 11, 2007. And the DVD contains multiple alternate endings which was an indication that even the creators weren’t quite sure what to do with this movie.
While all these signs would indicate a major train wreck, it’s not all that bad either. It just isn’t that funny. I didn’t chuckle once while watching it. The movie attempts to make fun of a corporate environment, stay at home moms, and other such things, but none of it is terribly original. Movies where a third wheel attempts to break up a happy couple are almost a genre of their own. “The Ex” doesn’t add anything new to it. It doesn’t help matters any that Braff and Peet have very little chemistry together.
I would only recommend “The Ex” to big fans of Bateman, Peet, and Braff because they’ll likely be the most forgiving. Everyone else should just re-watch “What About Bob?,” “Scrubs,” or “Arrested Development.”
The Alternate Endings in the Special Features have nothing major to offer. Most of the 8 or so deleted scenes seem to have been made for time. There are also three different alternate endings. None of them are particularly satisfying and seem to make Braff’s character look more like a jerk. The only notable bonus feature is the blooper reel. While the movie wasn’t very good, it looks like they had a lot of fun on the set.
