Tower Heist

Directed by Brett Ratner, Tower Heist follows Ben Stiller’s Josh Kovacs as he and a ragtag band of disgruntled employees plot to rob their felonious boss (Alan Alda’s Arthur Shaw) of the untold millions stashed within his penthouse apartment – with the gang’s efforts assisted by a streetwise criminal named Slide (Eddie Murphy). Filmmaker Ratner has infused the early part of Tower Heist with a slick, mindlessly entertaining feel that proves impossible to resist, with the affable atmosphere heightened by an eclectic supporting cast that includes, among others, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, and Gabourey Sidibe. And although the irresistible premise keeps things interesting for a while, Tower Heist suffers from an overly episodic midsection that’s been suffused with one time-wasting, pointless sequence after another (eg Slide forces his cohorts to steal $50 worth of merchandise from a local mall) – with the progressively erratic vibe inevitably wreaking havoc on the movie’s already-tenuous pace. It is, as such, not surprising to note that one’s interest in or enthusiasm for the title heist is virtually non-existent by the time it finally rolls around, with the expected complications that ensue lending this stretch a drawn-out and increasingly tedious feel (ie it’s far more frenetic and action-heavy than necessary). Murphy’s engaging, boisterous turn quickly establishes itself as the one consistently bright spot within the proceedings, although, perhaps inevitably, the actor’s strong work is ultimately canceled out by the film’s otherwise unremarkable atmosphere.

** out of ****