Identity Thief

“Identity Thief” wants to be a smart, heartfelt comedy, but it’s not as smart as it tries to be and is only heartfelt and comedic because of the two main actors.  Jason Bateman’s straight man plays perfectly against Melissa McCarthy’s physical comedy, but the script holds this film back.  The premise holds promise, but decisions made throughout the story make this movie weak, not unenjoyable, just don’t use your brain while watching it.

A major problem is Sandy Patterson.  Inconsistencies with his character blow gigantic holes in this movie.  First of all, Sandy is an accountant for a big company.  Not only that, but he is called “the best in the business,” so I think it is safe to assume he is good with money.  This leads to a major problem.  Sandy would be smart and careful with his money and I feel like he would be more careful with his personal information than to give it out at will to a random person on the phone.  Sure, Diana assured him he almost had his identity stolen and was offering to protect him, but he as much as anybody should know that nobody sits around and watches random people’s accounts.  That, I think, is highly illegal.  This one moment, within the first couple minutes of the movie, is a passing moment so it shouldn’t make much of a difference, but it is the moment upon which the whole movie is based.  If Sandy would’ve noticed the ruse, which I believe he would have, the whole movie wouldn’t have happened.

Other small inconsistencies trail through the movie.  When Sandy’s rental car is hit by the semi the semi doesn’t stop.  I liked the joke, but then I started thinking.  A semi driver doesn’t just hit a car and not stop.  Early in the movie Diana tries to run away from Sandy but only makes it about 20 yards before she runs out of breath, then later in the movie she carries Sandy for a half mile after he’s passed out from a snake bite.  If she can’t run more than 20 yards I don’t believe she can carry a grown man for a half mile.  It is possible that she isn’t telling about the rests she had to take, but even if I am being harsh on this plot point it leads me to my next complaint.  Sandy gets bitten by a snake and passing out from the poison, but the next morning he is fine without any hospitalization.  That is nonsensical.

I don’t want to be too harsh on the movie, because it was very fun and enjoyable, but when you are spending millions on a film I expect you to put enough thought into your story that plot-holes that big don’t exist.  So watch the film, it is funny, but don’t think.  Not a thought.

3/5