"Identity Thief" - a review

I'm taking a break from my planned Best Picture reviews to give you my take on "Identity Thief," a comedy whose premise is aptly described in the title. Jason Bateman ("Horrible Bosses," "Juno") is Sandy Patterson, a husband and father who works hard, has great credit, and is a very likable guy. Scenes of him taking a new job where he quadruples his salary are intercut with scenes of Diana (Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids," TV's "Mike and Molly") racking up charges on Sandy's stolen credit cards. One morning, Sandy stops for gas and is shocked to learn that his card has been declined. To make matters worse, he is confronted by police who accuse him of missing a court date in Florida, a state that Sandy has never been to. The final nail in the coffin digs in when Sandy's new boss (John Cho) nearly fires him when news of Sandy's plummeting credit score hits the office. When a mugshot of Diana turns up and clears him of criminal charges, Sandy decides to track Diana down and force her to come back to Denver to clear his name on the issue of credit fraud. If you are thinking that the premise is ridiculous, you are right. If you still want to see the movie after reading the above synopsis, then chances are very high that you will like it. I enjoyed it more than I thought possible. The script offers up some genuinely funny stuff at times, but the movie succeeds because of the talents of Bateman and McCarthy, as well as their charisma together. I laughed steadily throughout. There are even a couple of dramatic moments that, while cheesy, work. The character of Diana is fascinating to me because I have known people who have similar behaviors for coping with life. Overall, "Identity Thief" is pretty predictable, often silly, but truly enjoyable. I rate it 85/100. Warning: the humor is a solid R, with some pretty consistent profanity and a particular scene that is no good for children. Now playing locally at AMC New Lenox Showplace, Marcus Orland Park Cinema, and Cinemark Louis Joliet Mall.