Movie Review: Identity Thief
Mar. 23rd, 2013 01:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23Identity Thief appeared that it might be the first great comedy of 2013. Quickly, critics told you that it wasn't, so.....
It does have a good pedigree. From the writers of Horrible Bosses and the producer of Ted- two hit comedys of recent years. It also stars two actors - Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman.
It's not the casting that is the problem McCarthy and Bateman likely improve the film. There is also a strong supporting cast that if anything is underused (Eric Stonestreet (Cam from Modern family), Robert Patrick, Jon Favreau, Morris Chestnut)
The plot shouldn't be the problem, but I suspect it is. It's a 'mismatched duo goes on a road trip' plot, which unfortunately is a bit too close to the recent Due Date (a movie I wasn't crazy about either but apparently did well). I think perhaps if they tried to keep it simple, it might have been funnier- however, like Tower Heist (another film failure, though Eddie Murphy's scene was hilarious)- this film tries to be funny, tries to be an action movie, tries to get you to feel sympathetic, and tries to make a greater point; and doesn't do any of that particularly well.
So, probably should have worried about the funny than the plot, and probably should have used the cast's strengths more. There were some moments that made me smirk, a few outright LOL moments and some good one-liners.
Those that know me will know that I hardly say anything bad about a movie, and so, yes, I did enjoy it. I just probably wouldn't see it again. It did feel overlong, and the theater audience sat mostly in silence during the comedy. I think this will be on a lot of year-end "Worst of" lists, and while I wouldn't go that far, because it was enjoyable enough for me, it was disappointing that this couldn't have been something more.
It does have a good pedigree. From the writers of Horrible Bosses and the producer of Ted- two hit comedys of recent years. It also stars two actors - Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman.
It's not the casting that is the problem McCarthy and Bateman likely improve the film. There is also a strong supporting cast that if anything is underused (Eric Stonestreet (Cam from Modern family), Robert Patrick, Jon Favreau, Morris Chestnut)
The plot shouldn't be the problem, but I suspect it is. It's a 'mismatched duo goes on a road trip' plot, which unfortunately is a bit too close to the recent Due Date (a movie I wasn't crazy about either but apparently did well). I think perhaps if they tried to keep it simple, it might have been funnier- however, like Tower Heist (another film failure, though Eddie Murphy's scene was hilarious)- this film tries to be funny, tries to be an action movie, tries to get you to feel sympathetic, and tries to make a greater point; and doesn't do any of that particularly well.
So, probably should have worried about the funny than the plot, and probably should have used the cast's strengths more. There were some moments that made me smirk, a few outright LOL moments and some good one-liners.
Those that know me will know that I hardly say anything bad about a movie, and so, yes, I did enjoy it. I just probably wouldn't see it again. It did feel overlong, and the theater audience sat mostly in silence during the comedy. I think this will be on a lot of year-end "Worst of" lists, and while I wouldn't go that far, because it was enjoyable enough for me, it was disappointing that this couldn't have been something more.
