Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Great stars can't rescue uneven, sometimes violent comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
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Where to Watch
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Identity Thief
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 43 kid reviews
Kids say the film is hilarious and features a lot of strong language and some inappropriate scenes, which some reviewers believe make it unsuitable for younger audiences. While many loved its comedic aspects and performances, especially those of the lead actors, concerns about the excessive swearing and sexual content led to mixed recommendations on age appropriateness, particularly for teens and younger kids.
- funny
- inappropriate content
- strong language
- mixed age recommendations
- lead performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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
- In theaters : February 8, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : June 4, 2013
- Cast : Amanda Peet , Jason Bateman , Melissa McCarthy
- Director : Seth Gordon
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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