IDENTITY THIEF (Rated R)

Identity theft is a serious problem. Just ask any victim. But there’s no topic too serious that can’t be turned into a comedic adventure, given the right script.

Starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, “Identity Thief” offered high expectations for some gut-busting laughs in a screwball comedy exploring the clash of diverse personalities.

As written by Craig Mazin (“The Hangover Part II”) and directed by Seth Gordon (“Horrible Bosses”), the upshot of “Identity Thief” is a more formulaic comedy, having something more in common with “The Guilt Trip.”

Still, there is laughter to be found here, if mainly because the plus-size Melissa McCarthy, much like she did in the insanely funny “Bridesmaids,” has a knack for stealing scenes.

For “Identity Thief,” McCarthy’s Diana is a big-haired, white-trash fraudster living in a small house in Winter Park, Florida, crammed full of ceramic junk and other ill-gotten gains.

A compulsive hoarder with bad taste, Diana lives it up at local spas, hair salons and local bars where she buys everyone rounds of drinks, all the while maxing out the credit cards of her victims.

Her latest casualty is a poor schmuck with the gender-neutral name of Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Jason Bateman), a Denver family man with a pregnant wife (Amanda Peet) and two small children.

The film has no problem straining credibility right from the very start.

You’d think that Sandy, an accounts supervisor at a large investment firm, would know better than to give out his vital information over the phone to a telemarketer.

Struggling to support his family and tired of dealing with his horrible boss (Jon Favreau), Sandy’s fortunes look up when he’s invited to take an executive position with an upstart competitor.

And yet at the same time, all that he has worked for is suddenly threatened, after a gas station attendant tears up his maxed-out credit card and the police arrest him for having skipped a court date in Florida.

Though some of the problems are sorted out, a Denver detective (Morris Chestnut) informs Sandy that his legal troubles could go on for many months because the culprit resides in another state.

Given a week by his impatient new boss (John Cho), Sandy travels to Florida to confront Diana and to bring her back to Denver so that her testimony can clear him of still pending charges.

Needless to say, the fake Sandy is not willing to help the real one get his life back, and so a few fights are in the offing, resulting in the destruction of his rental car and harm to various body parts.

Diana becomes more agreeable to Sandy’s plan to leave Florida when a pair of assassins (Genesis Rodriguez and T.I. “Tip” Harris) is gunning for her because she sold them phony IDs and credit cards that don’t work.

To add to her woes, Diana is also being pursued by a redneck bounty hunter (Robert Patrick), so crazed and unhinged in his chase that he’s a greater threat than the hired killers.

The road trip to Denver proves to be a test of wills between the straight-laced nebbish and the wild child of reckless behavior. Many fights, some physical, ensue.

At times, the mind games played by Diana are amusing. But when she hooks up with an overweight cowboy named Big Chuck (Eric Stonestreet), it proves humiliating for Sandy and uncomfortable for the audience.

The story offers some momentary promise when Sandy resorts to unsavory tactics directed at his former corporate boss. Unfortunately, Jon Favreau’s villainous Harold Cornish does not return to the action.

“Identity Thief” has its moments of fun, and yet it doesn’t quite fully connect in the possibilities of an odd-couple road movie. It aimed for “Due Date” territory and proved about as engaging as “The Guilt Trip.”

Nevertheless, “Identity Thief,” though stitched together with the standard comedic blueprint, presents enough amusement, thanks to the talents of Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

This column space often serves to announce the arrival of a new DVD release for a television series. For the most part, I aim to focus on something unusual or vintage.

Arriving unsolicited in the mail was a copy of “Gossip Girl: The Complete Sixth and Final Season.” As you can imagine, I did not immediate load this into the DVD player.

The only thing thrilling about the news release accompanying the delivery of said DVD was the fact that it revealed the 10 one-hour episodes of this season represent the final season.

This means, of course, that I will be spared any more installments of the “scandalous and seductive series” (to quote the over-exuberant press release).

The press release breathlessly informs that Season Six opens with the Upper East Siders working together to find Serena, who’s gone off the grid. I say if someone has gone off the grid, you just need to let the person go.

Other newsy tidbits reveal that Blair and Chuck reunite with a bang and Lonely Boy Dan writes a new tell-all book.

Fans of “Gossip Girl” will probably want this new DVD. As for me, I shall remain blissfully unaware of the identity of Gossip Girl.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

MENDOCINO, Calif. – The Mendocino Chamber Players will perform Sunday, Feb. 24.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. at Preston Hall, 44831 Main St. in Mendocino.

This lively program includes Brahm's Clarinet Quintet; Schickele's String Quartet No. 1, titled “American Dreams”; and Lyric and Ostinato by quintet member, Jeff Ives.

The group includes Marcia Lotter, Tamara Dyer, Jeff Ives, Joel Cohen, and Eric Van Dyke.

Tickets cost $20 and are available at Harvest Market and Tangents in Fort Bragg, Out of this World in Mendocino, at the door and at www.symphonyoftheredwoods.org .

For more information call 707-937-1018.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Second Sunday Cinema will show “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” on Feb. 10.

The movie will be shown at Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave. Clearlake, near Mullen.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the film beginning at 6 p.m.

The film showing is free.

“Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” by director Peter Joseph is a two-hour, 42 minute film which continues what the prior two films of the Zeitgeist Film Series started: a critical look at the “Zeitgeist” or “spirit /awareness of the time.”

Zeitgeist is pronounced “zitegiste,” with two long i’s, as in “bite.”

Unlike the first film, “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” does not attack Christianity, which alienated many viewers. Further, this third film delves far more more broadly into the causes of the major problems of our time.

“Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” focuses on the very fabric of the social order: monetary-market economics, and explains it with great clarity.

Many in the world today have come to see some very basic flaws in the economic system we share. Large scale debt defaults, inflation, industrial pollution, resource depletion, rising cancer rates and other signposts have emerged to bring the concern into the realm of “public health” overall. But very few consider the economic paradigm as a whole as the source.

After a review of (a lot) of info, “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” concludes with suggestions for changing the System that is attacking our lives.

This is a long film, so SSC suggests you bring a small flat pillow. If the majority prefers, they will take a 10 minute intermission mid-film.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. –The Lower Lake High Drama Club will present its annual “Comedy and Tragedy Night” on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lower Lake High School multipurpose room, 9430 Lake St.

Cost of admission will be $5. All proceeds will go towards a new sound system for the upcoming Musical, “Fame” which will be presented in May.  

The students took their act on the road as they competed in the 57th annual Lenaea Drama Festival Feb. 2-3 in Folsom.

The festival welcomed 50 high school theater programs from Northern California offering a venue to provide feedback to student performances of one act plays, monologues, scenes and songs.

The festival provided response and workshops from statewide professional theater artists to all student participants.

“The students who participated in this year's event were both experienced on stage and first-timers,” said Program director, Tracy Lahr.  

The One-Act that Lower Lake performed was entitled, “Hard Candy.” The play was directed by student-director, Sarah Christensen.  

The cast included Jon Duncan, Patrick McGough, Amanda Guajardo, Cristian Mendez, Tiffany Sillert, Luis Ruiz, Michelle Kimsey-Bailey, Colby Callahan, Zef Roofener, Avrill Pier and Sadie Sheldon.  

Also participating in the festival in the monologue category were Megan Smith, Julia Johnson, Avrill Pier and Michelle Kimsey-Bailey.  

Taylor Klemins/Patrick McGough and Michelle Kimsey-Bailey/Tiffany Sillert competed in the duet scene category.

For additional information please call 707-994-6471, Extension 35.

COBB, Calif. – Cobb Mountain Artists presents featured artist Glenneth Lambert, who will talk about his ceramics and more recent digital photography, and have work to show, as well as some slides of his pieces.

The event will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at The Artisans Realm, 16365 Highway 175, Cobb.

In 1977 Lambert began the study of ceramics, art and science at Cypress College in Southern California.

Initially a science major, he was quickly lured to change his major to art by a dynamic ceramics teacher, who arranged for Lambert to attend a two-week workshop in Aspen, Colo., with internationally known ceramic artist Paul Soldner. This influence and continued art courses addicted him to art for life.  

He then transferred to San Francisco State, earning a bachelor’s degree and art teaching credential.

Lambert has shown his work in San Francisco and the North Bay region. He has bounced around the North Bay ever since, working in schools and programs, and has remained involved with community art efforts.  

He settled down in Cobb approximately eight years ago and is currently building a clay studio in his home.  

He will be be sharing both his ceramic work and recent digital photography.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre's Third Friday Live event on Feb. 15 will feature the local band Blue Collar.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show taking place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the theater, located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Blue Collar plays a variety of music, from rock to folk, R&B, south, rock-a-billy and country.

There will be a bistro-style setting with tables and an open dance floor. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

The cost for tickets is $10 per person.

Tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, at the Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St. in Lakeport; tickets also are available at the Soper-Reese box office on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., telephone 707-263-0577.

Online ticket purchases also can be made at www.soperreesetheatre.com .