Identity Thief

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Identity Thief Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Great stars can't rescue uneven, sometimes violent comedy.

R 2013 100 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 14 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 46 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Identity Thief is full of (comic) mayhem, with cars crunching into each other (sometimes on purpose) and characters shooting at each other, stealing from each other, and generally creating as much chaos as possible. The premise centers around a thief (Melissa McCarthy) who steals someone else's identity; he (Jason Bateman) then proceeds to try to get her to clear his name. In the process, they get embroiled in tons of hijinks, some of which are sexual in nature (though not with each other); there's simulated sex, but no nudity. Expect lots of innuendoes and plenty of swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t"), plus some racist jokes, drinking (wine, hard liquor), and product placement.

Community Reviews

Geeko
Geeko Adult
October 6, 2020
age 12+

Not that crude.

The sexual references are very mild compared to most slapsticks. As long as you've had the talk, you're in the clear. The internet will expose your kids to much worse than this.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Ddoyle
Ddoyle Adult
April 21, 2020
age 17+

Good but ROB

Very good but just content and language

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Even-tempered, kind, hardworking Denver resident Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Jason Bateman) finds himself in the unlikely position of having to confront Diana (Melissa McCarthy), a troubled, devious, middle-aged woman living large in Florida thanks to credit cards she took out in Sandy's name. The fraud is putting Sandy's new job on the line, and all he wants is for Diana to come to Denver and say she's behind all the financial ills that have befallen him. But, first, he must convince her to return with him, all while fending off amorous suitors, vengeful hit men, and a bounty hunter who's plenty angry.

Is It Any Good?

IDENTITY THIEF makes off with a few of your hours that you might find yourself missing. Not because of Bateman and McCarthy, mind you; they have an authenticity and likeability that save this comedy from true ruin. Their chemistry makes their unlikely team-up -- and subsequent journey -- believable and even understandable.

The problem lies in the script. Identity Thief can't seem to decide what it wants to be: Is it a road-trip comedy? A buddy comedy? An absurdist, violent, witty mayhem extravaganza (a la Quentin Tarantino)? Too many characters are given little to do; in the end, they seem like red herrings that distract from, not add to, the movie's potential greatness. Some of the jokes seem mean-spirited, too: We're asked to sympathize with Diana, even as the movie makes her a discomfittingly easy mark. We can put up with the enormous suspension of disbelief that the movie demands, but we do have our limits.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Identity Thief's premise. How often does identity theft happen in real life? Discuss ways to stay safe on the Internet and how to protect your privacy and identity.

  • How is Identity Theft similar to, and different from, other heist/road movies? Does it add anything new to the genre?

  • Is the movie violent? How does the overall tone impact the scenes of car crashes, shooting, etc.?

  • Why does Diana do what she does? Is it excusable? Understandable? Or does the movie let her off the hook too easily?

Movie Details

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Themes & Topics

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