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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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The Ex (formerly known as Fast Track) Stars: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, Amy Adams and Mia Farrow Director: Jesse Peretz Scriptwriters: David Gulon and Michael Handelman Weinstein Co. /MGM Running Time: 90 minutes Rating: PG 13 Zach Graff (television's “Scrubs”) sleepwalks through this comedy and one keeps waiting for the jolt of caffeine to wake him up, alas, it doesn’t happen. When there is a title change, plus delays in the film opening, you can be sure something needed fixing. It didn’t happen. There are two instances of Graff coming to life in The Ex, and one happens with his father-in-law (Charles Grodin) while the other is with his wife’s former boyfriend (Jason Bateman.) The father-in-law bit occurs when Dad reaches a low point in his career and he and Zach dialogue, the ex-boyfriend part comes when Zach discovers a secret and the two men have a physical altercation. As for the rest of the cast, they act around Braff, who stands there staring at the camera and reciting lines. The basic story has Zach and Amanda Peet married and about to become parents. It’s a boy and she gives up her attorney’s job to be a stay-at-home Mom. Unfortunately, he loses his job, so they move to Ohio where he can (gulp) work with her father. Grandma is Mia Farrow who stands around holding the baby. Here comes Jason Batemen (television’s "Arrested Development”) Amanda’s old flame from high school. He is in a wheelchair and the script has too many jokes here. Before long, Zach figures someone is sabotaging his work at Dad’s ad company, Amanda is getting bored at home and I’m checking my watch every five minutes. By the way, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who is sabotaging Zach. Zach and Jason have plenty of physical comedy and this, too, wears thin. In fact, the story seems like a 30-minute sitcom stretched to 90 minutes. Grodin commands the scene when he is in it and Amanda Peet is a delight, but not given that much to do. Just when you think her material will go someplace, the camera leaves her. No wonder she is bored. The Ex could have sparkled with another lead, or how about switching the roles and having Bateman as Amanda’s husband and Graff (who looks like a young Ray Romano) as the ex-boyfriend. As it stands, The Ex has potential, but falls flat. Director Jesse Peretz should have cracked the whip. Copyright 2007 Marie Asner
One and a Half Tocks
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