We went to see The Tower Heist this past weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting much (I'm not a Ben Stiller fan), but we wanted to see a movie, and my wife isn't terribly interested in cartoon movies. We decided to give this a shot.
As I'm sure you're aware, if you've seen the previews, the plot revolves around a group of ordinary guys who attempt to commit robbery to right a wrong. I won't spoil the plot, but everyone in the theater knows how this one is going to turn out.
The Tower Heist is an "action comedy" - with the emphasis on comedy. Most of the action is cartoon-style - you're never too worried about someone getting hurt. I was pleasantly surprised to see they avoided the temptation to go over the top with outlandish characters - Ben Stiller is OK as the wronged loyal employee, and Eddie Murphy is a surprisingly good as "Slide", the local hood who helps the good guys set up the heist. Tea Leone plays against type as a tough FBI agent (and Stiller's love interest), and Matthew Broderick is well cast as "Mr. Fitzhugh". Gabourey Sidibe absolutely shines as "Odessa", she's hilarious, mixing a saucy, sexy personality with a little psyco scary girl. Alan Alda is the ultimate "One Percenter" - you can almost see the slime drip off him as he slithers around looking down on everyone. The ensemble cast melds together - there's plenty of chemistry here, and that's what makes the movie work. It's a modest movie, filled with almost-normal characters who get caught up in crazy situations, but it works for me. It's funny, fast moving, and has enough action to keep you awake, with a couple of scenes that had me in hysterics.
This is not a realistic movie in any sense - you have to suspend your disbelief at the door. Once you do that, it's easy to get caught up in the caper, and you'll cheer when the bad guy gets what he's got coming. All-in-all, not a bad flick, and worth the price of admission.
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