In The Ex (or Fast Track
for those Americans who were quick enough tosee the movie before it
disapeared from the screens) Braff plays Tom Reilly who is preparing
for life as a Dad. As a lawyer, his wife Sofia (Amanda "Stop
Confusing Me With Jenifer Garner" Peet) has always provided a
comfortable living while Tom has contributed love, support and the
occasional paycheck. However, when Sofia decides to be a stay-at-home
mum all & Tom loses his job as a chef (thanks to a superb cameo by
Paul Rudd) that changes.
With no job offers on the table,
Tom moves the family to Ohio to work for his father-in-law (the
superb, if not slightly decaying, Charles Grodin) as an 'Assistant
Associate Creative' for a new-age Advertising Company. His wheel chair
bound (and seemingly perfect) superior Chip (Arrested Development's
Jason Bateman) happens to still carry a torch for Sofia from their high
school days and each time Tom gains some ground at the firm, Chip
wheels in and steals his thunder.
From here it's good old
fashioned dirty tricks and sabotage which soon creates an
unstoppable atmosphere of paranoia that eventually which threatens
Tom and Sofia's relationship.
For the most part The Ex
works wonderfully well. Braff survives well as the straight man to
Bateman's two-faced villan (it is one of the finest performances I've
seen from the guy, he honestly deserves some kind of "Cinemas Biggest
Arsehole" award), with the array of comedy cameos (is there any
comedians who do lead roles, or everyone just does cameos as a career?)
bringing along some welcome laughs.
But, when it all boils down to it, The Ex is The Cable Guy with fluro colours.
It
didn't dawn on me until about 40 minutes in - but by gum - everything
screams similarity here. The paranoia, the double-edged charm of the
'bad guy'.... the basketball game! Not that it's a bad thing (I'm one
of the few in the world that still believes theres a really fantastic
film within The Cable Guy) and for the most part, The Ex supplies the light & humour which The Cable Guy never delivered (but everyone expected).
A pretty solid flick overall, not deserving of the stigma which a film that grosses under $5M which comes with it.
Worth checking out alone for serial "cameo-ist", SNL's Fred Armisen, who continues to deliver in every frame. Give him his own movie already!!
EXTRAS
Amazingly,
some of the worst Special Features I've ever endured. The selection of
"Alternate Endings" (both of which make no sense whatsoever) and the 22
odd minutes of mind numbingly boring deleted scenes a real downer.
Having
said that - there are a fantastic collection of bloopers which are
played during the final credits of the main feature which are well
worth checking out.
Worth checking out if you get the time.
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 20%
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