The Ex (2006)

The Ex is the kind of messy, workplace-and-marriage rom-com that lives or dies on chemistry, and it’s got a sly secret weapon: Jason Bateman, weaponizing charm into something deliciously passive-aggressive. Jesse Peretz keeps the vibe brisk and awkward in a relatable way—watching Zach Braff’s well-meaning underachiever stumble into a high-pressure office and a rivalry that feels both absurd and uncomfortably plausible. Amanda Peet grounds the whole thing with a smart, lived-in warmth, so even when the comedy veers broad, there’s a human heartbeat underneath the sniping and one-upmanship. It won’t convert anyone who needs their romance pristine or their humor subtle, but if you’re in the mood for a lightly spicy, actor-driven comedy with a reliably funny antagonist, it’s an easy, enjoyable watch.

The Ex is trying to be a prickly romantic comedy about workplace humiliation, marriage stress, and a petty rivalry that spirals into absurdity, with a cast that should be able to sell that kind of chaos. The problem is it often feels strangely paced and chopped together, so the jokes land inconsistently and the story beats don’t build so much as lurch, leaving you stuck with characters who can come off more irritating than endearing. Zach Braff and Jason Bateman have moments where their timing peeks through, and Amanda Peet brings some steadiness, but the movie wastes a lot of that potential with undercooked motivations and a mean-spirited edge that isn’t sharp enough to be satisfying. If you like uncomfortable, slightly nasty rom-coms and can tolerate tonal whiplash for a few good one-liners, you might get by; if you want warmth, likable leads, or a smoothly escalating comedy, this probably isn’t worth your time.