Tower Heist follows Josh (Ben Stiller), Charlie (Casey Affleck), Dev'reaux (Michael Peña), and Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe), employees of an exclusive apartment building who lose their pensions in the Ponzi scheme of Wall Street businessman Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). The group enlist the aid of criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy) and bankrupt businessman Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) to break into Shaw's apartment and steal back their money while avoiding the special agent in charge of his case, Claire Denham (Téa Leoni).
When I saw the trailer to this movie, I knew I wanted to watch it. Ben Stiller has always been interesting to watch. The serious, good guy, whom everything bad happens to.
Eddie Murphy, needless to say, is a sure-watcher. However, in Tower Heist, it seems like their roles have been watered down, and instead the ensemble, as a whole, rose to the limelight.
I particularly liked the characters of first time criminals Charlie, the over-worried, under-qualified "new manager", Dev'reaux, the enthusiastic new lift operator, Odessa, the maid-gone-rouge, and of course, the good-hearted depressed Wall Street guy, Mr. Fitzhugh. Not forgetting, Lester, who played the very affable door opener.
Well, basically, the film follows this group of hard-working maintenance worker and Slide, the small-time criminal, as they decide to rob Shaw, the Filthy Rich Heartless Businessman after falling victim to his wealthy business scheme of wiping out their pension funds. It just so happens that he is under house arrest in the same high-rise building where they work.
The typical Robin Hood storyline, where they steal from the rich and give to the poor has been done, and overdone, but it is a plot that would never go wrong.
However, I'd say that although this film was a breeze to watch, it wouldn't fall in my books of "best film of the year".
Not as funny as expected. But 3 cheers for Victory when the tables turn and good wins bad.
Entertainment Value: 3/5
Thanks omy.sg for the tickets!
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