Tower Heist (2011)

Running Time: 104 mins
Directed By: Brett Ratner
Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, Michael Peña, Alan Alda
Screenplay: Ted Griffin, Jeff Nathanson
UK Release Date: 2nd November 2011

Quick Plot: After the downfall of 'business' man Ponzi, the pension and money of hard workers of a high rise block in New York are lost. Josh Kovas, fellow workers and a squatter team up with a criminal in order to get back what is rightfully theirs.


Review: With a very 'cool' cast, Tower Heist should evidently be a cool film. Sadly, this is not the case.
Though the cast are great themselves, Tower Heist doesn't give any room for them to adapt to give a funny atmosphere for the audience to be in. Instead, they work very well with what they've got to give the best they can and overall there are probably about 4 or 5 funny moments with only about 1 or 2 really funny moments. Before you start thinking that this means Tower Heist is rubbish- read on. The terrific cast saves it, because of their charisma (Affleck and Broderick mostly) and overall it's not a bad film at all.
Until Stiller has the heist idea, the film is moderately slow and painful to watch with the exception of a very funny Peña (who's part in 30 Minutes Or Less earlier this year had me in stitches). Then a very angry Stiller has a little scramble with Steve McQueen’s sports car and a golf club, which is probably one of the best scenes in the film, and not because it's funny. Tower Heist then moves slowly again until Murphy is picked up and with his foul mouth and hilarious character. That being said, Murphy does not get anywhere near as much time on screen as he should and therefore the film is at a lost cause.
Once the action does pick up it's obvious that the laughs are coming from Affleck and Broderick- like I mentioned. Affleck providing most of the jokes without his character meaning to and Broderick being pretty normal though effective. Alan Alda is also funny with his attitude in the mischievous character Ponzi - it's very easy to hate him.
This isn't a film of performances though. Just a regular film and it lacks any wit in the script and any charm in the characters themselves meaning it's just basic.
Though it seems extremely fun once into the story, the feeling is lost quickly after. Technically it's saved by the cast, but even they can't win it over fully. Yes you'll have fun watching it and every now and then you'll chuckle. But from some of the comedy brilliance 2011 has shown, Tower Heist is forgettable.

Tower Heist was never going to be fantastic and that being said, it's pretty average. It's a shame the actors aren't given more to work with. Though at the times it seems fun, it's easily forgettable 10 minutes after it's finished.
2.5/5

Tower Heist trailer