RBR: Identity Thief

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprise that a film with a premise all about stealing the identity of someone would so liberally steal elements from other movies. That's what happens though in Identity Thief, a movie with a ton of promise thanks to the casting of two extremely funny people and saddling them with a tired, rehashed plot that has been done so much better in the past. There are elements of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Midnight Run, and Taking Care of Business seen here but this movie strips away the humor, intelligence, and heart found in those films. Instead, this film focuses on car chases, action scenes, and a physical brand of humor that yields very few laughs. It is a shame that a film that features two comedic actors who I enjoy produced only one actual laugh from me. I quickly became disinterested in seeing how everything would get resolved. Not surprisingly the central story ends on a predictable note while other subplots get ignored or are paid off in an unsatisfactory manner. Given how successful the film was, I know that I am now one of the last people to actually see this movie, but if you have managed to hold out longer than I have, continue doing so because there's nothing here worth your time. Rating: **

Inner Office workings

Audiences said goodbye to The Office this past May and now that it's over we're starting to get a look at what might have been. Here's an interesting video that will be included in the DVD/Blu-Ray of the final season that shows some famous actors originally auditions for the roles of Michael, Jim, Pam and the rest of the Dunder Mifflin crew. Watching it, it seems as if they made the right choices to go with the people that they did, but it's still funny to think of how different the show would have been had say Seth Rogen gotten the role of Dwight.

RBR: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Despite now seeing all three films in the Harold & Kumar franchise, I can't say that I've been the biggest fan of this series. The first one I found to be a novelty that had its moments of fun absurdity, but the second one I found to be a narrative mess that severly lacked in strong jokes. So it was with some trepidation that I watched this third entry that opted to not only tackle the holiday movie genre but also try to capitalize on the 3D craze sweeping films these days. While it may seem like a complete mismash of tone, these guys somehow make it work and create an enjoyable, albeit extremely raunchy, film. One of the themes the film attempts to establish in between gross-out gags is the difficult decision of making that transition from immature man-child into a full grown adult. While this is far from an original concept, it's perfectly suited for this duo as each is a portrayal of both sides of the argument. Harold (John Cho) shows us the successful but lacking in fun adult while Kal Penn's Kumar is the encapsulation of the irresponsible, yet always good time that the man-child represents. This time around their adventures revolve around trying to replace Harold's Christmas tree that accidentally gets burnt. As is always the case with these films, the jokes can be hit or miss. The ones that work are genuinely funny. I liked the addition of Thomas Lennon (Reno 911) as Harold's new straight-laced friend. He's always good for a few laughs. But as always, the film kicks things up a notch with the appearance of Neil Patrick Harris, aka NPH. The short time that he's on the screen is the best portion of the film and his presence creates a liveliness that the film needed. His interpretation of playing 'himself' is of course, legen...wait for it...dary. If you haven't seen it yet (and you're not someone who is easily offended) check this out during the holidays next year. Or if you're weird and like holiday movies all year round, then go ahead and give this a rental now. You'll be in store for 'high times' indeed. Rating: ****