Amanda Peet

A woman steals a man's identity, and without the help of police, the man tracks her down to bring her to justice. Sounds like the recipe for a romantic comedy, right? Well, Identity Thief couldn't be further from a love story. Bateman is Sandy Patterson, the everyman who becomes the unwitting target of Diana (McCarthy), a small-time identity thief. In no time at all, Sandy ends up with creditors at his heels and cuffed at the police station as a result of Diana's shenanigans. Though the cops acknowledge it's an identity theft, state laws dictate that the criminal is Florida's problem, leaving Sandy with no choice but to find Diana himself. It's a setup that could fall completely flat if it didn't cater to the strength its leads, especially McCarthy.

McCarthy carries the film, utilizing her talent for physical comedy and executing slapstick moments with impressive commitment. Bateman is ever the reliable straight man, a role we've seen him play plenty of times before. The characters are polar opposites; Diana's a compulsive liar who hides some deep-seated pain by buying rounds of drinks for strangers at bars, while Sandy is a bland family man in need of a backbone. They can both learn something from the other, but everything feels just a little too obvious.

Despite McCarthy's comedic skills, a few of the gags are overkill. In one of the broader running jokes, Diana has an unbelievable talent for surviving accidents that would kill — or at least maim — a normal person, but each time her head pops up triumphantly, it comes off as more cheesy than celebratory. There's also much ado about the fact that Sandy is a unisex name, a joke which, though uninspired to begin with, loses its vigor after the third repetition. Some of the cruder moments (like Diana's sexual tryst with a cowboy played by Eric Stonestreet) also may not be for everyone.

Identity Thief can be flat-out silly, but there's a kernel of heart in there thanks to its leading lady, who executes a number of emotional moments that allow the audience to connect with the desperately lonely Diana. Though the material isn't stellar, McCarthy still knows how to make us laugh.

NBC's comedy Bent is part of their new midseason lineup, and it stars Amanda Peet and David Walton as two people who can't really stand each other — and obviously become love interests. The half-hour show is set in Venice Beach, and the tone is as relaxed as the beach town setting. If you want to know whether Bent is something you'll want to tune in to before tonight's premiere, my pilot scoop can clue you in.

• What it's about: Amanda Peet plays Alex, a single working mother who hires a contractor, Pete (David Walton) to make over her kitchen. Her uptight personality is challenged by Pete's relaxed, go-with-the-flow mentality, and though they're just client and contractor at first, there is chemistry all over the place.
• Where it works: I've loved Peet since her days on the short-lived series Jack and Jill and she brings her effervescent charm (even when Alex is being uptight) to her role here. And Walton is hilarious and her perfect foil. You may remember him from Perfect Couples, which didn't get much of a chance, but Walton was one of the highlights.
• Where it doesn't: The show seems like it's going to rely too much on Alex and Pete's will-they-or-won't they relationship. Sexual tension is a classic TV ingredient, but there has to be something more going on, and a kitchen renovation isn't going to cut it.
• When it's on: Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.
• You might like this show if: You like light, quirky comedy — think Cougar Town.

To watch a preview and see some photos from Bent, just keep reading.

At last year's Golden Globes, ponytails reigned supreme, and this year, the trend is still kicking. Nicole Richie had perhaps one of the most talked-about styles of the evening, opting for a vintage-meets-modern coiffure with blunt bangs in the front. Sarah Michelle Gellar went for a similarly retro-themed look, her voluminized fall tossed up high at the crown. For Amanda Peet, a classic ponytail was all she needed for a gorgeously fresh style. So the next time you think about grabbing that hair elastic, look to these three for some chic inspiration.

With a smile like that, it's befitting that Amanda Peet has recently inked a deal as Crest 3D White's spokesperson. And with the launch of the brand's new 2-Hour Express Whitestrips ($55) and Advanced Vivid Enamel Renewal Toothpaste ($4), Amanda has been out and about talking about the impact of teeth whitening on one's appearance, along with a few other beauty tidbits. To see the rest of my interview with her, where she reveals her favorite red-carpet moment and her tricks for looking happy and healthy, just keep reading.