Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Tea Leoni, Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe, Nina Arianda
Written by Ted Griffin & Jeff Nathanson
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 106 minutes
Directed by Brett Ratner
Stiller plays the straight man for once in this action comedy. As head concierge to the plush Tower condominium – obviously modelled on Donald Trump's Manhattan venue – he and his staff are cheated out of their pension pot by the nasty, scheming Alda, a billionaire who lives in the apartment building's penthouse. While said schemer is under arrest for swindling, Stiller plots to steal $20m from him.
He assembles a team to perform the heist – nervous receptionist Affleck, motormouthed lift operator Pena, temperamental maid Sidibe and even a lodger, recently redundant Wall Street worker Broderick (Ferris Bueller is looking distinctly middle-aged now). They all bring their talents into play but have no experience in committing a crime. Who is that can give them that extra push and confidence in doing the deed? Why Murphy, of course. As a streetwise thief with a history of petty misdemeanors, he is the last link in the chain in order to activate the tricky theft. And with FBI agent Leoni on Stiller's tale they'll need all the luck they can get as New York's Thanksgiving Day parade is taking place.
It's a disposable time filler – no more, no less. There are plot holes galore but it's done with enough lively energy to gloss over them. The cast are game – Murphy is back to his old self again and funny with it – but that said, there isn't much comedy to be had. Laughs are scarce, but it's nevertheless an agreeable exercise. Perfectly amiable and instantly forgettable. Pretty much like all of Ratner's movies, in fact.
• Official Site
• Tower Heist at IMDb