THE EX **½

This romantic comedy isn't as light as it should be but does star a cast of recognizable, competent actors who can do comedy well, including: Scrubs star, Zach Braff; Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip star, Amanda Peet; Arrested Development star, Jason Bateman; and Charles Grodin; in addition to brief appearances by Mia Farrow, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, and Amy Adams.

The plot is about a couple with a new baby, where the wife, Peet, a well paid lawyer and the family's main breadwinner, decides to leave her job to become a stay-at-home mom. That means her husband, Braff, must pick up the financial slack, which is difficult since he's never held a job for long. They end up moving to Ohio so he can go to work in an advertising firm her father works for. Problems immediately erupt as his immediate supervisor, Bateman, has been in love with Peet for years and sets out to break up the marriage by making life incredibly difficult for Braff at work. To make things even worse, Bateman has been in a wheelchair for years and is a master at playing the sympathy card.

This is a pleasant, amusing comedy that never becomes really funny although a few selected outtakes come close during the end credits. Braff, and especially Peet, portray characters you like and wish the best for. Bateman is very good as the sneaky romantic competition. Grodin, who hasn't made a film in ten years, is fine as Peet's father but doesn't have a particularly strong role. The rest of the cast is only seen briefly. If you're in the mood for a few chuckles, this will do. But, it will be just as enjoyable on your home TV when the DVD is released.