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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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The Ex (2007)

Rating: 1 Star (out of 4)

Office Waste

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Ex on DVD

Similar to Are We Done Yet? this insipid comedy pits the idiotic hero, Tom (Zach Braff), against an impossibly perfect villain, the wheelchair-bound "nice guy" Chip (Jason Bateman), whom everyone except the hero and the audience thinks is great. As a result, the movie has no intelligent, truthful or sympathetic characters. Losing his job on the day his son is born, Tom compromises by moving to Ohio and taking a job in his father-in-law's company. Chip, a former lover of Tom's wife (Amanda Peet), wants her back and subtly tries to sabotage Tom's career. Donal Logue and Amy Adams provide New Age hippie humor (but what are they doing in Ohio?). As the father-in-law, old pro Charles Grodin gives the only inspired line readings. Director Peretz previously made the very good First Love, Last Rites.

DVD Details: Why do the absolute worst movies always come out in "unrated" versions? Perhaps it's so people will give them a second chance, whether they deserve it or not. I couldn't watch this one again, even though it runs six minutes shorter than the theatrical cut (which can only be an improvement). Extras include deleted scenes (6 minutes), alternate endings (!) and a blooper reel (3 minutes).

Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Mia Farrow, Lucian Maisel, Donal Logue, Amy Adams, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Bob Stephenson, Yafit Hallely, Josh Charles, Marin Hinkle, Yul Vazquez, Michael Lawson, Paul Rudd, Nicholas Grodin, Robert John Burke, Romany Malco, Carole Troll, Sarah Bennett, Edmund Lyndeck, Caitlin Miller, Lauren Weedman, Michael Cumpsty, Katie Barrett, John Benjamin Hickey
Written by: David Guion, Michael Handelman
Directed by: Jesse Peretz
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, brief language and a drug reference
Running Time: 90 minutes
Date: May 11, 2007