Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
When a mild-mannered businessman learns his identity has been stolen, he hits the road in an attempt to foil the thief -- a trip that puts him in the path of a deceptively harmless-looking woman.
Identity Thief is a formulaic road comedy that leans heavily on a mismatched duo dynamic with little originality in its premise or execution. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy have genuine comedic chemistry and McCarthy in particular delivers an energetic physical performance that elevates the material, but the script is uneven and relies on tired slapstick and contrivance. The cinematography is entirely workmanlike with no visual ambition. The plot is predictable and stuffed with unnecessary subplots involving hitmen and bounty hunters that clutter rather than enrich the story. The ending opts for an unearned sentimental redemption arc that feels tacked on and inconsistent with the tone of the rest of the film.