Tower Heist
Director: Brett Ratner
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, and Matthew Broderick
Finally, a Ben Stiller film that doesn’t rely on cheap laughs and awkward situations! Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. However, Little Fockers was a clear reminder of how stale some jokes can really get and how far producers can really take any box office cash idea.
The concept behind Tower Heist doesn’t sound that original either. A group of guys want payback, so they rob from the rich. Hell, that’s sort of the concept of those 3 Ocean’s movies starring Clooney, Pitt, and Damon. The difference here is the execution. It still takes itself seriously, but with a group people who are truly nothing alike. Tower Heist is a modern day Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and I haven’t seen Eddie Murphy this funny since his RAW standup special back in the 80’s.
Eddie Murphy had me almost passing out with laughter from his crude, vile comments that he throws in thorough out the film. Eddie Murphy plays Slide, a lowlife thief who grew up in the same neighborhood as the main character, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller). It’s the comedic chemistry between Stiller and Murphy that really makes the movie something special, and raises it above your average comedy flick.
Stiller and Murphy lead a great line-up of stars that include: Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Alan Alda (NASH), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). This comedy is about hard working ex-hotel personnel who seek revenge on Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), a Wall Street swindler who embezzled all of the hotel staff’s pensions. The film gets interesting when they bring aboard Slide (Eddie Murphy) to help with the stealing portion of the crime.
When I saw the trailers for this movie I wasn’t impressed. I knew the idea wasn’t original, and I wasn’t looking forward to another disappointing Ben Stiller or Eddie Murphy comedy. It wasn’t until I got some early movie feedback from friends and fellow critics alike, that I decided to see the movie. My opinions quickly changed as the movie progressed, and it became hard for me to hold back my laughter (just ask the girlfriend). This movie is anything but a disappointment. It may not be the Hangover, but it’s certainly much better than any Happy Madison production lately.
7.5 out of 10
