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PRODUCER: |
Tommy Pallotta (Waking Life), Jonah Smith (Waking Life), Erwin Stoff (Constantine, Picture Perfect), Ann Walker-McBay (Waking Life) |
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The Ex . . . which, because of this movie, is hopefully how Zach Braff now refers to his agent!
The Ex stars Zach Braff and Amanda Pete who are married and have just had their first baby. Unfortunately, Zach's been fired from his job so they need to move to the suburbs where he can work for her father. Not a bad plan if it weren't for Jason Bateman's character who's obsessed with crushing Zach at work and stealing Amanda away. He and Amanda were "special" friends in high school. He uses his handicap (he's in a wheel chair) to manipulate Zach and to get Amanda's attention. Unfortunately, all his antics might get the attention of everyone on screen, but they can't keep the audience’s attention.
The message of The Ex is, we think, that pretty much any screenplay can become a Hollywood movie. It starts with some very awkward, forced dialogue that then develops into virtually no story at all. There are a few moderately funny scenes, but they’re thrown together with seemingly little rhyme or reason. The characters are also troubling – almost cartoonish, but not in a zany comedic way . . . more like an annoying, stupid way. Zach Braff is still very likable, and Jason Bateman plays the devious coworker perfectly – it’s just too bad neither had strong material with which to work. Follow the rule of “ex’s” and keep The Ex out of your life! |
