Is this movie worth watching for Paul Rudd’s douchey earring?
Jason Bateman plays a dick very well. Unfortunately, Zach Braff plays a dick very naturally himself. Like, even when he’s not supposed to. Even when he’s supposed to be the sympathetic character. Does anyone actually like Zach Braff?
Tom (Braff) is a NYC cook who loses his job on the very day his wife Sofia (Amanda Peet) gives birth. As punishment, they move to Ohio where Tom will work with Sofia’s dad at some new-agey ad agency while she stays home to care for the baby. Tom is mentored at work by Chip, the son his father in law never had, and incidentally Sofia’s ex-boyfriend. Chip (Jason Bateman) is a grade A ass but for some reason only Tom (and we) see it, possibly because Chip is in a wheelchair and kind of milks that for all it’s worth. But as hard as Bateman tries to steal the scenes with smug, smarmy schtick, he just can’t keep this stinker afloat.
The Ex has been disowned by nearly everyone who made it. The credited screenwriters, David Guion and Michael Handelman, insist that most of what you see isn’t really their material, nor the director’s, come to think of it. “It was unfortunate because the director, Jesse Peretz, is great and very talented, but the movie was ultimately taken out of his hands.” I’m not sure if that’s true – certainly there’s not a lot of evidence of capable direction in the film. It feels half-cooked, sitcomy, and oddly truncated, like someone was just washing their hands of it rather than actually finishing it. And yet it’s been presented to audiences like it’s a real film that you should watch. And it just isn’t (despite the fact that I’ve seen it twice now). Viewer beware.
I love Jason Bateman, but I think I’ll be skipping this. Great review Jay!🙋🏻
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I always say I love him, but I think only love like 50% of his movies.
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ugh
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Hmm… I may give the earring a miss for now. 🙂
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poor you to see it twice! I’m not even going to see it once! Fab review Jay.
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I have seen this. It’s fucking awful. I can see why everyone disowned it and I don’t blame them.
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So they just disowned it cause there was a sudden realisation it was dreadful, then?
I like Bateman, though. Even if most of his movies ain’t all that good… I might end up watching this some time.
*gets coat*
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It’s a nice escape hatch, isn’t it?
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No kidding!
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lol.. im afraid im with Fraggy on this one
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I’ll watch it only to see if you are funnier than the movie (probably!) 😀 Thank you for the laugh!
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