"Identity Thief" doesn't blaze any new trails and it definitely has a lot of bumps along the way, but by the end laughs will have been had and heartstrings will have been tugged.
The story begins with hardworking Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman) making a huge career move. With a wife, two girls and another child on the way to think about, Sandy leaves his job for greener pastures. Unfortunately for him, Sandy Patterson (Melissa McCarthy), a.k.a. Diana, is living the sweet life on the real Sandy's dime.
Under investigation and with his career on the line, (the real) Sandy must track down his impostor in Florida and bring her back to Denver before his life completely implodes. Of course, Sandy isn't the only one after Diana, and the two must go on the run from a bounty hunter and one ticked-off mob boss. Luckily, Diana isn't as sweet and helpless as she appears.
Road-trip movies are anything but new, and they crash and burn more often than not. But sometimes the perfect mismatched pair is thrust together to spin comedic gold. "Identity Thief" tries hard for the gold but, in the end, settles for the silver. One of the biggest problems is the weeklong timespan Sandy is given to go to Florida, track down and retrieve Diana, and return her to Denver to clear his name. There are many moments during which the writers seem to struggle to find hijinks to fill the time. Granted, they're on a road trip, so there's an obligation to have a car crash or two, but by the third or so, it gets a little tiresome.
Where "Identity Thief" really gets it right is with Bateman and McCarthy. Both thespians are playing their normal parts, but they both play them so well. Bateman's strait-laced man versus McCarthy's sweet, uncouth and slightly psychotic woman meld together like butter on waffles, and it's because of these two that the movie is worth watching. It does't matter how many times McCarthy throat-punches someone; it's funny every single time. There are also some pretty terrific cameos that pop up throughout the film. I don't want to give them away, but they're all giggle-worthy.
Overall "Identity Thief" is an enjoyable movie and a great way to spend a Friday night. Don't expect anything new, but do expect to laugh.
The Blu-ray release is full of fantastic goodies, from alternate takes to a making-of featurette. These little comedy nuggets will keep you laughing long after the movie is over.
Film: 3 Yaps Extras: 3 Yaps
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQg6Rlt6W4&w=560&h=315]