The Ex

The title character of The Ex is Chip Sanders (Bateman): the wheelchair-bound, bow-tie-wearing former high-school classmate of Sofia (Peet), who slept with him—just once—back in their cheerleading days. When Sofia’s slacker husband, Tom (Braff), comes to work at Chip’s New Agey ad agency, Chip, a smooth devil on two wheels, sets out to sabotage his rival’s career. Though Bateman rolls through the film with sly comic skill, the whole exercise seems half-baked—a high concept and some funny gags that do not a great comedy make. (Now playing; Click here for venues.) — Tom Beer