The Ex

The Ex

Year: 2007

Runtime: 89 min

Language: French

Director: Jesse Peretz

ComedyRomance

Rémy and Sandra, a couple struggling to conceive, discover they have a unique condition called "Past Love Syndrome." To address this, they hilariously embark on a journey, revisiting former relationships and rekindling old flames. Through these awkward encounters, they hope to overcome their fertility challenges and find a second chance at love and family.

Light-hearted
Happy ending
Emotionally light
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Ex yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Ex (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Ex (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The events take place in a modern, present-day frame, reflecting current work culture and family dynamics. The narrative follows a couple through career upheavals and changing roles, with the journey spanning across different locales. The era highlights contemporary tensions between professional ambition and personal relationships.

Location

Manhattan, Ohio, Barcelona

The film moves from a bustling New York City setting to a midwestern Ohio ad agency, then shifts to Barcelona in its concluding moments. These locations anchor the power struggles, career shifts, and evolving family dynamics at the heart of the story. The settings emphasize the contrast between urban ambition and domestic life.

🏙️ Urban Manhattan 🏢 Ohio ad-agency 🇪🇸 Barcelona

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

Main Characters – The Ex (2007)

Meet the key characters of The Ex (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tom (Zach Braff)

Tom is a Manhattan-based cook who struggles to keep a steady job. After defending his friend Paco, he is fired and ends up working in Ohio's ad world under Sofia's father. His mounting frustration, suspicions about Chip's disability, and eventual role reversal to stay-at-home dad drive the film's emotional arc.

💔 Jealous husband 🧭 Ambitious worker 🧩 Family-focused

Sofia (Amanda Peet)

Sofia is a successful attorney and Tom's wife. She balances a high-pressure career with family life, and she navigates Chip's manipulations and his claims about their relationship. Her choices shape the couple's fate as they confront trust and commitment.

💼 Career-driven 💞 Protective spouse 🧭 Loyal partner

Chip (Charles Grodin)

Chip is Sofia's ex-boyfriend and Tom's boss-like supervisor who fabricates a disability to gain control and fuel his power plays. He can walk but remains bound to a chair as a strategic device, revealing his capacity for deceit and manipulation.

🎭 Deceptive boss 🦽 Disability deception 🧪 Power games

Paco

Paco is Tom's friend who becomes the catalyst for the conflict when Tom defends him, leading to Tom's firing. He remains a contextual driver for the drama rather than a central on-screen focus.

🤝 Loyal friend 🧩 Catalyst for conflict

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

Major Themes – The Ex (2007)

Explore the central themes of The Ex (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Power and deception

Chip leverages a feigned disability to manipulate Tom and influence Sofia, turning the workplace into a theater of manipulation. The deception fuels humiliation, distrust, and a ruthless battle for control. The theme exposes how appearances can mask true intentions and corrode relationships.

💑 Marriage and trust

Tom and Sofia's marriage is strained by jealousy, suspicion, and loyalty tests. The couple must sift truth from manipulation and decide where their trust lies. Their struggle probes commitment, forgiveness, and the fragility of marital bonds.

💼 Career vs family

Tom loses his job after defending a friend, prompting a role reversal where he becomes a stay-at-home dad while Sofia returns to her career. Sofia's continued professional life contrasts with Tom's new domestic role, illustrating shifting priorities. The arc questions who really leads the family when professional pressures mount.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:28

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Lighthearted comedies of marital reconnection like The Ex

Couples navigate hilarious situations to find their way back to each other.If you liked the comedic journey of the couple in The Ex, you'll enjoy these movies about partners who find their way back to each other through humorous situations. These films blend romance and comedy with a steady pace, focusing on the awkward yet heartwarming path to rediscovering love.

lightheartedcomedicheartwarmingawkwardcatharticplayfulromantic

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow an established couple whose relationship is tested by an external problem or internal stagnation. The plot revolves around their shared, often clumsy, efforts to overcome this obstacle, using situational humor and light conflict to explore their dynamics, leading to a reaffirmed, happier union.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a light tone, a focus on relational humor over high-stakes drama, and a core belief in the resilience of love. They offer a comforting and amusing view of partnership, where challenges are met with comedy and result in cathartic, happy endings.

Movies with situational farce from an intruder like The Ex

A disruptive force enters a stable life, causing a cascade of awkward and funny chaos.Fans of The Ex will enjoy these comedies where a chaotic character disrupts the protagonist's life. These films build humor from escalating awkward situations and a frustrating rivalry, culminating in a satisfying and cathartic conclusion where the peace is won back.

frustratingawkwardsuspensefulcatharticcomedicplayfulrivalry

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist (or couple) whose contentment is challenged by a new, disruptive presence—be it a rival, a relative, or a friend. This antagonist masterfully creates awkward and frustrating scenarios, building a steady pace of comedic tension until the protagonist finally confronts them and reclaims their life.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their use of a specific comedic antagonist to drive the plot, creating a mix of laughter and mild suspense from the resulting chaos. They share a medium intensity driven by situational conflict rather than deep drama, and a lighthearted tone that ensures the stakes never feel truly dire.

Unlock the Full Story of The Ex

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Ex in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Ex is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Ex Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Ex, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Ex Summary

The Ex Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Ex with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Ex Timeline

The Ex Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Ex that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Ex Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Ex

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Ex: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Ex

Explore More About Movie The Ex

The Ex (2007) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Ex (2007) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Ex (2007) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow