Identity Thief (2013)

Wonderful Movie

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It has been a while since NBC aired this, but I just had so much tom watch on my three DVRs I had to wait until summer.Melissa McCarthy is definitely the standout actor here. And it's not just because she goes back and forth between angry and determined defending her illegal actions and nice and charming trying to persuade people. In one scene she shows a vulnerable side and real emotion. I won't say whether the change in the tone of the movie is permanent, but after that scene she claims she was lying. Oh, no, she wasn't. She was telling the truth. I'm not saying whether the movie proves this. I'm saying you can just tell.Jason Bateman does a good job too. Nothing innovative ... well, maybe. He learns to deceive people too and does a great job of it. Most of the time, though, he's just ordinary and responsible, like his character, who has to go against his values in some cases because that's what it's going to take.Of course, one of the best things about the movie is the chemistry between the two Sandys. Not romantic, because the real Sandy will be faithful and isn't actually attracted to his partner. But plenty of enjoyable bickering.Morris Chestnut also does a good job as the detective investigating Sandy's deeds, which are actually Diana's. Yes, eventually he does believe Diana did what Sandy is accused of. But he's a professional and he needs proof.Robert Patrick, I believe, is the determined bounty hunter who just keeps coming back no matter what. He's kind of scary.Eric Stonestreet is much more likable in his TV role. Big Chuck is a bigot and a racist and very religious, except his version of religion allows what some would call fornication. Some people will like him.There are some memorable characters here with just a few lines. Okay, maybe not so memorable. I was thinking of them as memorable when I watched them, but now I can't really remember details. There are plenty of exciting car chases and a couple of spectacular wrecks.The ending is quite surprising but satisfying.I had a good time.

In all fairness the subject of identity fraud is very hard to make funny for a films plot,its a very sad and worrying problem that we all hope and try to avoid falling victim to,yet careful people still do. The film starts off okay there's a good build up of the man Sandys character and you straight away connect with him and sympathise with what his going through. But where the film goes wrong for me is when he meets up with the woman who has been defrauding him,the film then becomes so unrealistic and cringy.This woman has been ruining his life and has cost him even more money trying to find her,yet he tries to reason with her saying that he wont press further charges on her if she just admits that she has stolen his identity Hmmm ????? The film also relies heavily on this woman Diana for comedy effect which just doesn't work as her character is far too vulgar and 100% despicable to be funny,in fact i was disappointed that the assassins didn't catch and dispose of her.She was that bad Also the scene where she was having sex in the motel with the tycoon she picked up was just nauseating ,and done to the effect that it is good comedy to see and hear to obese people having sex.Really? This film just got more and more cringy by the minute ,i could go on but why bother ,just don't waste your time and avoid this film at all costs

There are many parts of this film that could be seen as social commentary; the ease of identity theft, the lack of care and downright ridiculous behaviour of the police, the attitudes to different levels of crime, and consequences for actions. Yet if you treat it as a goofy romp, then there are some laughs along the way. It just gets let down by Diana (Melissa McCarthy) trying to be both an evil genius, while stopping short of being evil, resulting in her coming across as irritating. And Diana isn't even her real name.Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman) is a penny watching accountant who pays plenty of attention at work, but has his life unravel when he gives away too much information to a con artist, meaning he has to take the law into his own hands to get his life back. As with other McCarthy films, she's the street smart one who points out what the straight, more educated, characters faults are, and along the way, they get to know each other better. In the end he uses some of her tricks to get through and she learns from him to redeem herself. Along the way they're chased by other criminals who she's sold fake IDs too, and a Skiptracer, played by Robert Patrick (in an almost parody of his T1000 role from Terminator 2).The plot and script are contrived - so instead of Sandy simply saying "she's bad, and here's why", he skates around the issue and ends up looking like the bad guy - yet it could have actually benefited from borrowing more from other movies, such as, you know early on that Sandy has a horrible boss (Jon Favreau), who is going to get some comeuppance, it's just a question of how and what happens, and frankly, could have been worse. It's crude, without being overly evil.

This movie is not just bad, it is an insult to intelligence, good taste and sense of humour. I started watching it because I liked Bateman in "Horrible Bosses", but I soon regretted my choice.Bateman is Sandy Patterson an alleged financial wizard, who is as stupid as to give all his personal details over the phone to a perfect stranger, who called him about "problems" with his credit card.Mc Carthy plays her usual character: a loudmouth, aggressive, crude woman with a psychotic streak. I live in Europe and don't watch much TV, but I read that McCarthy is a TV star in the USA, and she has –allegedly – an acting range. Unfortunately, I could not detect any in the few movies I saw, "dis-graced" by her presence.In this one, besides being utterly repulsive and criminally so, she indulges in sex with an obese guy, in one of the most cringe-worthy scenes ever. I guess it was supposed to be a politically correct way to show that even obese people find each other attractive and have sex. I do not care if they do, but I most certainly do not want to watch them doing it.The plot is supposed to be an "on the road, buddy comedy" where the fraudster bonds with her victim. Very believable, if you actually wants to become best friend with the person who stole all your money. Truly awful, besides being unbelievably stupid.