I would love to tell you how hi-larious this movie is. I would love to tell you that the laughs started early and never let up, that Bateman/McCarthy have terrific comedic chemistry, and that the schmaltzy third act feels totally earned. However, none of that would be true. This movie exploded at the box office this weekend, with 36 million, and I think a pretty big portion of those ticket buyers would probably like their money back.
What Works: Jason Bateman can play the straight-man, buttoned-up family guy role in his sleep, and he’s not capable of being bad in anything. [Although I still think he’s best when finding ways to play against his fussy type, like in The Change-Up, The Ex, or The Switch.] If there’s one thing that kept this movie watchable, it would have to be him. I wish I could say I felt the same about Melissa McCarthy, but she’s only sporadically good. Her commitment to this brash, mostly unlikable scam artist is commendable, but it’s a character that would probably be better in a sketch than as the lead in a movie. By the third act (which makes the bizarre, old-fashioned decision to try to flesh out this sociopathic con woman into a TV movie ready sob story) she’s really worn out her welcome.
What Doesn’t Work: This feels more like a 90’s comedy than a 2013 one. I kept thinking “I wonder if Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller were attached to this at any point,” since everything about it (the contrived, high-concept set-up, the far fetched action sequences, the ridiculously bad “thugs for hire” after them, etc.) really seems like the kind of buddy comedies that don’t get made in the era of Apatow and prevalent sex jokes. And the movie doesn’t make a good case for bringing this type of comedy back from the dead…
What I Would Have Done Differently: This thing is far-fetched in all the wrong ways, so why not push it into something truly dangerous? Instead of coping out and trying (but failing) to pull the heart strings towards the end, why not just go full-on crazy? There’s already enough eye-rolling car chases and tear-jerker shenanigans to make you feel like the movie doesn’t exist on this planet, why not turn that into a good thing?
jason bateman is always good.
I have heard this is a good movie though.
I would like to see this movie
I want to see this movie. Everyone I’ve talked to thats seen it, says it’s really good.
i would love to see this movie the trailer was so funny !!!!
i would love to see the movie
i heard that the movie was really funny and a good one two.
i would like to see the movie… looks funny on the trailer
movie is really good
i heard this movie is funny
this movie looks awesome
Ive heard this movie is funny
This movie might be good
ive heard this movie is good and funny
i heard that the movie was really funny and a good one too. I would like to see it.
this movie looks awesome
i would love to see this movie. I have heard that it is really funny.
i love this movie:(
This sounds like a boring movie.
Yeah i think that this movie is hilarious but there is some parts that i really dont like
I think the movie is great and funny but there is some parts that i dont like
i hear its the best movie of the season
ive heard its really good im excited to see it
it was a great movie
i would love to see this movie. but it sounds really good
I watched the trailer and I want to see this movie!
I’m gonna fo watch this movie at the theaters yeeeaaa
sittin on a toilet……wish i had me a good ol sub samich
The movie was so hilarious:) LOL
I saw the movie for my birthday. It was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I totally want to go watch it again.
This movie was one the most funniest movie i have ever seen in a long time, i loved it! I could watch it over and over and still laugh at the same parts(:
this movie is a funniest crap i ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even tho the movie is funny, the real issue of identity thief is really scary.