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Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy have both had their time to shine as Hollywood funnymen. For Stiller, that time was about 10 years ago. For Murphy, maybe 25 years ago. So the thought of teaming them up—along with another ‘80s favorite, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s Matthew Broderick—for a big comic caper may seem a little old-school. But Tower Heist director Brett Ratner brings out the best in his classic comics.
Stiller stars as Josh Kovacs, the manager of an ultra-elite New York City high-rise known as The Tower. Josh runs a pretty tight ship at The Tower, but everything starts to fall apart when Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), the seemingly down-to-earth billionaire who lives in the penthouse, is arrested for securities fraud. The problem: Shaw managed the employees’ pension fund—and now they’ve lost every penny.
After a violent outburst gets Josh, expectant dad Charlie (Casey Affleck), and elevator operator Enrique (Michael Peña) fired, Josh decides to take matters into his own hands. Convinced that he knows where Shaw stashed his $20 million safety net, Josh plans to break into the penthouse—and he enlists bankrupt former Tower resident Mr. Fitzhugh (Broderick), neighborhood crook Slide (Murphy), and members of the Tower staff to help him pull it off.
It seems like the perfect time to release a movie like Tower Heist. With the economy collapsed, with millions of people searching for work, and with protesters occupying Wall Street, it feels like the perfect comic revenge to watch as service workers, the unemployed, and a small-time crook decide to fight back against The Man. There’s a hint of reality to it—the kind of timely reality that, at times, makes it just slightly depressing—but, with some help from an unexpected ensemble cast, Ratner manages to turn the situation into an enjoyably madcap comic caper.
While the film’s funnymen haven’t exactly been at the top of their game lately, the ensemble seems to suit them well. Stiller tones down his trademark freak-outs, while Murphy brings back some of the roguish charm that made him a star in the ‘80s. As for Broderick…well, I can’t remember the last time he was as funny as he is playing poor, pathetic Mr. Fitzhugh. Throw in worthy accomplices like Affleck and Peña—and Alda as the smooth-talking old con-man—and you get laughs that are evenly spread throughout most of the cast.
Tower Heist isn’t nearly as smart or as stylish as Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. And although it has a few moments that are slightly reminiscent of Horrible Bosses, it isn’t as outrageously hilarious as it could have been. But the comic antics of its classic ensemble cast—mixed with some surprising suspense—make it a fun-filled caper.
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