Tower Heist

"You know this was a bad idea, right?"
"That's it, I don't want you talking to me for the rest of the robbery!"

The Tower is the most expensive apartment complex in New York, boasting the best service in town.  Josh Kovacs (Stiller), the building manager, knows everything about the building and his clients.  He enjoys a friendly relationship, and online chess games, with financial guru Arthur Shaw (Alda), who lives in the highest penthouse apartment.

His life is good, until the FBI arrest Shaw for financial corruption.  Shaw oversaw the pensions for the Tower employees and the life savings of Lester (Stephen Henderson) the doorman.  According to Agent Claire Denham (Leoni), Shaw swindled millions on phony investments.  The Tower was his smallest investment, so there is minimal chance their money will be recovered.  After Lester attempts to take his own life, Josh decides to take matters into his own hands.

Shaw is released on bail and confined to his penthouse with a round-the-clock guard.  The FBI are unable to find the $20 million that Shaw removed from his bank accounts, and it looks like Shaw will get away with his crimes.  Josh thinks the money is hidden in the penthouse and recruits a rag-tag team to steal it back: his nervous brother-in-law Charlie (Affleck) the concierge, Enrique (Pena) the new elevator operator, evicted tenant Mr. Fitzhugh (Broderick), and feisty maid Odessa (Sidibe).  They don't know anything about stealing, but they know the building.  To pull off the heist, he enlists the help of professional thief Slide (Murphy).  Josh, Enrique, and Mr. Fitzhugh are banned from the building, and Shaw is careful to cover his tracks.  Can they find the money without getting caught, or are they doomed from the beginning?


The latest entry in the comedy heist genre feels familiar.  The story sticks close to the “heist movie” formula, but it works here.  The story starts slow, but the laughs build as the plot progresses.

Ben Stiller receives top billing, but the film belongs to Eddie Murphy.  Stiller’s Josh carries the story and plays the straight man, with occasional funny moments.  He comes alive when Murphy is on the screen.  Murphy is the best part of the film. This film truly reminds the audience of his comedic talents, which haven't been fully utilized in most of his films.  I enjoy Murphy, but I have absolutely no desire to see The Nutty Professor or Norbit, which rely too heavily on stupid body humor and crass jokes.  He can pull off those roles, but he truly shines here, especially with good co-stars.  His best scenes involve Gabourey Sidibe.  They have great chemistry and draw the best performance out of each other.  Sidibe was nominated for an Oscar for her first major motion picture, but proves she can do comedy as well.  She is an adept comedienne, and should have a strong future in both comedy and drama.

The rest of the cast is decent.  Casey Affleck is an unexpected delight as Charlie, while Matthew Broderick sticks with his usual neurotic schtick.  The film tries to be a new Ocean's 11, but falls short.  It has some funny moments, but never reaches it's full potential.  I enjoyed it, but it was not too memorable... the ending is far fetched, but do really expect realism in a film like this?

A fun and funny film, that may be by the books, but still has a few tricks.

Tower Heist (2011) 104 minutes
Director: Brett Ratner
Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content
Starring: Ben Stiller as Josh Kovaks
Eddie Murphy as Slide
Casey Affleck as Charlie
Alan Alda as Arthur Shaw
Matthew Broderick as Mr. Fitzburgh
Tea Leoni as Agent Claire Denham
Michael Pena as Enrique Dev'reaux
Gabourey Sidibe as Odessa