Movie Review: 'Identity Thief' a Depressingly Predictable 'Chunk of Junk'

"How many ways can a grown person waste valuable time and lose vital I.Q. points at the same time? If you’re a movie critic, the possibilities are unlimited. And they all come together in a new chunk of junk called 'Identity Thief'," according to Rex Reed of the New York Observer

You've got to feel sorry for Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman). Practically everyone who meets him makes fun of him for his "girl" name. He's a Milquetoast of the first order, a number cruncher in Denver whose boss is ripping him off, probably wondering why he has a girl's name. Through a series of credit problems, he learns that his identify has been stolen by a woman (Melissa McCarthy) living the high, white-trash, big-haired life in Florida. To retrieve his life, and to avoid going to jail, Sandy leaves his family and heads to Miami. Highjinks, bad camera work and a weak script follow, but Sandy and Sandy manage to entertain, as well as distress, viewers. But unless you're a diehard fan of the talented Melissa McCarthy, you might wish to sit this one out.

Here's what other critics had to say about the film:

Unfortunately, "Identity Thief" is a depressingly predictable road-trip buddy comedy that's far more interested in car chases, lame shootouts, physical shtick and cheap schmaltz than creating anything original. - Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

The story is about as subtle as a Florida theme park. - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

With their releases coming less than two months apart, the double-whammy of bad road trips represented in the under-performing The Guilt Trip and now the hard-to-watch Identity Thief may reduce the appeal of cross-country driving trips by a measurable amount. - Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

With "Identity Thief," Melissa McCarthy proves she's got what it takes to carry a feature, however meager the underlying material. Sustaining the same brand of unpredictable energy that made her such an effective scene-stealer in "Bridesmaids" and "This Is 40," McCarthy plays the tornado to Jason Bateman's uptight nebbish, an accountant who drives halfway across the country to confront the zealous con artist who stole his personal information, maxed out his credit cards and tarnished his good name. - Peter Debruge, Variety

"Identity Thief" is rated R and runs 1 hr. and 51 minutes. 

Ready to see "Identity Thief"? Head to Regal Hamilton Mill 14, 2160 Hamilton Creek Parkway. For more theater information and links to showtimes and pricing, click here or call 678-482-0624.

Click here for Regal Mall of Georgia showtimes. 

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