What Is The Ex About?
The premise of The Ex in 304 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling rhythm of Manhattan, Tom works as a cook while his wife, Sofia, practices law, their lives orbiting around the recent birth of their first child. The couple’s early days are defined by a shared ambition: Sofia will devote herself to motherhood, and Tom will chase the promotion that could give their family the stability they crave. Their dynamic feels both grounded and hopeful, set against a city that never sleeps and a love that has already weathered the demands of new parenthood.
When a sudden job loss forces Tom to accept a position far from home, the pair uproots to Ohio, stepping into the orbit of Sofia’s family and the advertising agency that will become their new workplace. There, Tom reports to a demanding supervisor whose presence is as surprising as it is unsettling—a paraplegic former classmate of Sofia whose very existence threatens to upend the couple’s equilibrium. The corporate environment, with its strict hierarchy and tight deadlines, collides with the couple’s attempts to maintain the balance they built in the city.
The film unfurls with a tone that mixes heartfelt comedy and a touch of off‑beat drama, exploring how intimacy can be tested by old connections and new responsibilities. As Tom navigates workplace politics and Sofia juggles her career aspirations with the demands of early parenthood, their relationship is stretched in ways both humorous and revealing. The narrative thrives on awkward encounters and the subtle power plays that arise when past loves intersect with present goals.
Against this backdrop, the story delves into themes of identity, ambition, and the evolving roles within a marriage. It invites the audience to wonder how far a couple will go to protect their dreams, and whether the echoes of former romances can become stepping stones—or stumbling blocks—on the path to building a family together.
What Happens in The Ex?
The complete story of The Ex, from the first scene to the last, in 461 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Living in Manhattan, Tom is a cook who has difficulty keeping a steady job. His wife, Sofia, is an attorney. When their first child is born, they agree that she will be a full-time mom and he will work hard to get promoted.
When Tom is fired after defending his friend Paco, he takes a job in Ohio at the advertising agency where his father-in-law is the assistant director. He is assigned to report to Chip, a strict and hard-working paraplegic who is Sofia’s ex from high school. Chip is still obsessed with Sofia, and he schemes to make Tom’s work life miserable. As Tom’s frustrations mount, he begins to sway Sofia to his side.
Tom starts to suspect that Chip isn’t handicapped after all and goes through his desk. He finds a photo of him playing tennis and rushes to his in-laws’ house to see his wife and show her the picture. He finds Chip having dinner with Sofia and her parents, and holding his child. Tom tries to prove that Chip isn’t actually paralyzed by dragging him up a flight of stairs and then throwing him, hoping he will stand up to avoid a fall.
Chip doesn’t stand (the photo is actually his late twin brother) and Tom is humiliated in front of his family. Later, he confronts and attacks him, where Chip reveals that he really can walk, but can’t fight outside of his chair. Sitting back down, Chip beats him severely, and then, to Tom’s increasing rage, reveals that he plans to have sex with Sofia again.
When Chip gets a call from the ad agency boss in Barcelona offering him a move to Spain to become the agency’s creative director, he asks Sofia to come with him. Tom pleads with her to believe him that Chip has been faking his paralysis. When she rejects Chip, he angrily tells his new “boss” he’ll only need one ticket — as it’s revealed that Paco is on the other end of the phone call. Chip tells Sofia he >faked his orgasm< before getting out of his chair and storming out. Continuing to mock the couple, Chip is hit by a bus.
Tom and Sofia have moved out of Ohio, and her dad is helping him start his own ad business. Now, the couple have swapped roles, Tom becoming a stay-at-home dad while Sofia returns to practicing law full time. During the credits, Chip is shown in Barcelona in a wheelchair with two broken legs, and the once-effective passive-aggressive routine that worked so well in Ohio is ignored in Spain. Still insisting he works there, Chip is tossed out of the ad company, and later Tom’s friend sees him on TV in the middle of the running of the bulls.
The Ex Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Tom's Manhattan life and unstable job” to “Chip in Barcelona and the closing sting”. 11 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
Tom's Manhattan life and unstable job
Tom is a cook in Manhattan who struggles to hold a steady job. His wife Sofia is an attorney, and they decide that with their first child she will stay home while he works toward a promotion.
Where:Manhattan
- 2
Tom gets fired after defending Paco
Tom defends his friend Paco in a workplace incident and is fired as a result. The firing upends their financial stability and the plan for Sofia to stay home.
Where:Manhattan
- 3
Tom starts a new job in Ohio under Chip
Tom takes a job in Ohio at the ad agency where Sofia's father is the assistant director. He is assigned to report to Chip, Sofia's ex-boyfriend from high school, who is strict and hard-working despite being paraplegic.
Where:Ohio
- 4
Chip schemes to sabotage Tom
Chip is obsessed with Sofia and uses his position to undermine Tom's work life, hoping to drive a wedge between Tom and his wife. His manipulations set the stage for a tense, competitive dynamic.
Where:Ohio
- 5
Tom uncovers Chip's deception
Tom grows suspicious that Chip isn't really handicapped and searches his desk. He finds a photo of Chip playing tennis, then rushes to his in-laws' house to show Sofia the evidence.
Where:In-laws' house
- 6
A humiliating confrontation
Tom drags Chip up a flight of stairs and tries to force him to stand, but Chip remains seated, humiliating Tom in front of Sofia's family. The ruse is exposed to everyone.
Where:In-laws' house
- 7
Chip reveals his true walking ability and plan
Chip explains that he can walk but cannot fight outside his chair, and then brutally beats Tom while taunting him about Sofia. He reveals that he intends to have Sofia again.
Where:In-laws' house
- 8
Barcelona offer and Sofia's reaction
Chip receives a call from a Barcelona ad agency boss offering him a move to Spain as creative director, and he asks Sofia to come with him. Sofia refuses the idea, staying with Tom.
Where:Ohio
- 9
The Paco reveal and faked orgasm line
Chip angrily tells Sofia that he will only need one ticket and hints Paco is the other end of the call, revealing the boss is connected to Paco. He also claims he 'faked his orgasm' before storming out.
Where:Ohio
- 10
Chip is hit by a bus
Continuing to mock the couple, Chip is hit by a bus, a turning point that halts his machinations. The incident marks a shift in the power balance between Chip and Tom.
Where:City street
- 11
A new life for Tom and Sofia
Tom and Sofia move away from Ohio; Tom becomes a stay-at-home dad while Sofia returns to full-time law practice. Their father (Sofia's father) helps them start their own ad business.
- 12
Chip in Barcelona and the closing sting
During the credits, Chip is shown in Barcelona in a wheelchair with two broken legs, still trying to work, but he's tossed out of the Barcelona ad company. A friend of Tom even sees him on TV during the running of the bulls.
When:Credits Where:Barcelona, Spain
Who Are the Main Characters in The Ex?
4 characters, among them Tom (Zach Braff), Sofia (Amanda Peet) and Chip (Charles Grodin): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
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Tom (Zach Braff)
Played by 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)
Played by 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)
Played by 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
- P
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
Where and When Is The Ex Set?
The Ex is set in Manhattan, Ohio and Barcelona (Contemporary). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
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.
Where
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
What Are the Themes of The Ex?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power and deception, Marriage and trust and Career vs family.
-
01
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.
-
02
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.
-
03
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.
What Kind of Film Is The Ex?
Light in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A lighthearted and steadily-paced comedy that builds situational humor and mild suspense from a frustrating workplace rivalry, culminating in a cathartic and ultimately happy resolution for the couple.
- comedic
- frustrating
- cathartic
- awkward
- suspenseful
- playful
- workplace rivalry
- marriage
- parenting
- deception
Quiz
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