Tom (Zach Braff) and Sofia (Amanda Peet) are expecting their first child and they’ve decided that Sofia — a beautiful, successful lawyer — will stay at home to be a full-time mom, while Tom works to support the family. The problem is, Tom is somewhat of a slacker who can’t commit to one particular career, let alone hold down a job. It’s not because he doesn’t try, but rather because his “bullshit meter” compels him to always say what’s on his mind, hence the reason he’s always getting fired.

Realizing it’s time to grow up and hold his tongue, Tom takes his father-in-law (Charles Grodin) up on his job offer to work at an advertising agency. So, the couple move from their tiny New York City apartment into a big house in Ohio, and Tom takes on the challenge of his new career.

So, where does “the ex” part come in? That would be Tom’s new supervisor Chip, played hilariously by Jason Bateman. After only one day on the job, it’s obvious to Tom that Chip still wants Sofia, whom he had a fling with in high school. Chip is wheel-chair bound, which he uses to his advantage at every turn. He’s also good-looking, well-liked, successful, and seriously conniving, but of course, only Tom can see the truth about Chip.

The Ex (originally called Fast Track) takes a page from the Farrelly brothers’ hit movie There’s Something About Mary, with Chip being much like Mary’s disabled Tucker, who uses his disability to gain simpathy from the desired woman while outsmarting the competition.

Chip who steals every scene and even though he’s really a complete jerk, at least he’s not a boring loser like Tom. None of Braff’s comedic charm typically displayed on his hit sitcom Scrubs is evident in Tom and it’s a wonder how someone as good a catch as Sofia is even with him for this long.

Most of the film’s humor comes from physical comedy, with characters getting hit in the head and falling off bicycles, although the cast is filled with great comedic actors who don’t get enough scene time. Most of the supporting characters — played by Charles Grodin, Amy Poehler, Donal Logue, Fred Armisen — are under developed and under utilized, and at times, the start of their jokes seem to go nowhere.

That’s why the bonus features on the DVD are a must-see. There’s a blooper reel section — the scene with Phil Rudd is the best part. Rudd plays Tom’s boss who fired him in the beginning of the film. One of the reels, where Rudd is criticizing his employees, is so hilarious that even the actors can’t keep a straight face though it.

The film was cut down for some reason to 87 minutes, so the DVD includes tons of deleted scenes and even alternate endings, some of which I really liked better than what was chosen.