Kramer was a great character on “Seinfeld”, the whacky neighbor, a star but not the lead, and the weight of the show didn’t depend on him. When he did become the center it was funny, but not nearly as funny as when he was in a supporting role, part of the ensemble. The same can be said for the actress Melissa McCarthy. Sure she’s doing great “Mike & Molly” but that weekly show is a half hour, less with commercials. In Identity Thief we get a 2 hour film that relies on her, and while it works and she delivers the goods, the film just isn’t as funny as it could be because it is reliant on a character that would be best taken in small doses and having it turned into a major piece of the story.
*phew*
That was overly long-winded. Identity Thief is funny, but it just isn’t as funny as it thinks it is.
I wanted to like Identity Thief. I didn’t have high expectations. I don’t mind the leads. The premise is relevant. It’s not a bad film, it just isn’t that good. A merely “average” comedy that should have been a lot better.
It’s shame, really.
The Blu-ray comes with an unrated version as well as the “R” rated theatrical cut. There’s about 10 minutes of additional material, and it doesn’t make the film better. Special features are pretty standard – gag reel, alternate takes, making of featurette, etc. You’re not going to rent this for the special features anyway.
Yeah, go ahead and rent it, just don’t say I didn’t warn you.