Identity Thief
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Teenager’s Movie Reviews!
The real Sandy Patterson (Jason Batman) is a happily married businessman, father of two daughter’s, and lives in Denver. The other Sandy Patterson, also known as Diana (Melissa McCarthy), is a single woman who likes to party, and lives in Florida; however this Sandy Patterson is a fraud. She has a credit card maker and manages to tap into strangers’ accounts and spend all their money. That’s what she did to the innocent, hard working man in Denver. So the adventure begins when the real Sandy Patterson travels to Florida to track down the thief that stole his identity. Identity Thief is an R rated comedy, raunchy in parts, with a kind-hearted message.
Talking Points:
Typically, in an R rated comedy there’s not much substance. However in this film there are some redeeming qualities and an emphasis on the importance of love and family. The real Sandy Patterson is a great guy. He’s a loving husband and father, and always wants to do the right thing. When we first meet the other Sandy Patterson (aka Diana), she is rude, obnoxious and a thief. {Spoiler Alert} However, as the movie concludes we learn why she became a thief and what she had been missing her whole life…a family!
I thought this film was appropriately rated. Though it is an R rated film, which means that kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult, I wanted to review it because I know many teens want to see it. With Eric Stonestreet (Cameron from Modern Family), in the film and Melissa McCarthy (from Gilmore Girls and Bridesmaids), it has a familiar cast and an entertaining plot. However, parents need to be aware of one crude and raunchy scene (see below), harsh language and excessive alcohol content.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- The thief Sandy Patterson (aka Diana), meets a guy in a bar named Big Chuck (Eric Stonestreet from Modern Family). This is a crude and raunchy scene. She tells Big Chuck that Sandy likes to watch her with other men. The couple proceeds to do some dirty dancing in a bar, then we see them in a hotel room engaging in sexual activity. We only see their heads and feet; but it’s implied they’re having sex by their facial expressions and loud noises.
- We see Diana taking a bubble bath; she masturbates in the tub and makes sexual noises.
- Diana tricks a police officer by telling him she has a pain in her upper thigh, he massages her butt and other body parts.
- There are also a lot of sexual references and dialogue throughout the film.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are a lot of car chases and accidents. In one scene Diana’s face is bloodied from a car accident.
- Sandy is bitten by a snake; Diana tires to beat the snake off with a flaming stick.
- There are several humorous fights and wrestling matches.
- A bounty hunter is shot in the neck, leaving blood all over his car window.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word is said about 40 times, we also hear “sh–,” “b–ch,” “h–,” “p–,” and “d–n” throughout the film.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- We see Diana, in several scenes, drinking tequila shots and guzzling liquor straight from the bottle.
- Diana says, “driving drunk is okay, but driving sleepy is dangerous.” Not a good thing for teens to hear!!
- Sandy takes his wife’s sedatives with him on the trip. Diana discovers the pills and puts some in Big Chucks drink.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
As I previously mentioned this is an R rated movie, and compared to some other R movies such as, “The Hangover,” and “Bridesmaids,” this film, though crude and raunchy in parts, is more appropriate. Depending on the teenager, I would say that Identity Thief is appropriate for mature teenagers.
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