What would you do if your identity was stolen-by a woman? That is the premise behind this comedy. Directed by Seth Gordon, “Identity Thief” offers an amusing take on a subject that-given it serious consequences-receives very little coverage.
The movie revolves around a lady named Diana (played by Melissa McCarthy), who goes through life stealing the identities of people and enjoying a good time before moving on to the next victim. Things come to a head when she steals the identity of Sandy Peterson, a simple family man living in Colorado (played by Jason Bateman), and in so doing, puts him at risk of losing his job. Faced with an imminent sacking, Peterson attempts to resolve the problem by tracking Diana down and bringing her to justice.
Jason Bateman is famous for the guy-next-door edge he brings to his characters, and for this reason, he is perfectly cast as the boring Sandy Peterson whose life is turned upside-down. On a hunt to redeem his identity, Peterson inevitably finds himself caught in a series of events that reveal the inner strengths of his character. He stars alongside Melissa McCarthy-still famous for her outing in “Bridesmaids” and a remarkable actor who commits to every role she is given. This is McCarthy’s first starring role in a feature film, and she does justice to the decision. Each of her scenes bursts with her unending energy, drawing you in and creating a connection that pays huge emotional dividends at the end. Together, their performance raises the script, turning it into an amusing ride that lasts for a little less than two hours.
Watch Identity Thief (2013) Trailer:
Seth Gordon-director of Horrible Bosses, which also starred Jason Bateman-does a good job with the ambitious story, especially in making Diana likeable and showing the growth in the relationship between the two as the movie unfolds. In keeping with the formula of “Horrible Bosses” and “The Hangover,” the movie features prank after prank, each following the other with the same energetic dynamism. Predictably, Diana keeps on outsmarting Sandy in various ways. As it turns out, theirs is no fleeting union. Instead of taking a plane to Colorado, the fact that they share the same identity forces Sandy to agree to a long road trip across the country from Florida. A stretch maybe, but it gives the movie the time it needs to nurture the otherwise doomed relationship.
There are other delights beyond the vibrant performances of Bateman and McCarthy. Sandy has to deal with his employer Harold Cornish. Fans of “Horrible Bosses” will notice a similarity between the bosses in that film and Harold (played by an inspired Jon Favreau), a cold-nosed jerk who sees no problem with undercutting his employees because they are weak. Unfortunately, Favreau receives very little playtime, which is a shame as he could have raised the movie to even greater heights. During the course of the film, they run into other obstacles in the form of a bounty hunter, played by Robert Patrick (who has not smiled since “Terminator 2“) and a hit team that has been hired to cut Diana’s thieving days short.
The R rating is well deserved: There are several incidents involving alcohol and a kinky sex scene that will leave a few blushing. Part of the movie’s appeal is that it does not rely too heavily on shock value for amusement. Instead, the plot unfolds with original humor and resonates with a warm buddy feel that watchers will relate to.
The final act of the movie is not quite as funny as the first and second, but after ninety minutes of pranks and jokes, this is not really surprising, especially since some emotional room must be made for the conclusion. “Identity Thief” ends with the familiar resolutions associated with such “Road Trip“-type films. Each character is changed in some fundamental way and discovers a new side of his or herself.
Questions will no doubt be asked about the movie’s message and morality. However, investing hours debating the pros and cons of the plot merely strips the film of its value. ” Identity Thief ” is not a film that tries to justify the crime. Indeed, very few jokes are aimed in this direction. Instead, it plays on the emotional bond between Sandy and Diane and the journey they share together. The message of the film, though muddled, appears to be this: People who bend the rules are still people-or something along those lines.
