Film: Tower Heist

GENRE: Action Comedy
RATING: PG-13 for language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 44 minutes
STARRING: Ben Stiller (Night at the Museum, Meet the Parents) Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hours, Bowfinger)
DIRECTOR: Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X-Men 3)
WRITERS: Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven, Matchstick Men) Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour 3, Catch Me If You Can)
PLOT: Workers at a hotel find out that they have been swindled by the investor living in their penthouse so they try to rob him and get their money back.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 The first two thirds of the movie were fun. Despite some overly-predictable set-ups, it had all the makings of a energy-driven heist film. Once they got into the apartment, my suspension of disbelief was pushed out the window (and dangled from scaffolding).
2 I’m usually not a Ben Stiller fan but he did very well in this film and didn’t do his usual freakout shtick as much. Eddie Murphy was back in fine form; it reminded me of his early career (Trading Spaces, Beverly Hilly Cop). I’d like to see Murphy continue to do fun stuff like this. It was a shame he wasn’t used more in the film.
3 Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) stole the show as a Jamaican maid. Wish she could have spent more time with Murphy on screen. Matthew Broderick also did well as a pathetic sad-sack. He’s definitely not cool like Ferris Beuller anymore.
4 What a waste of Zeljko Ivanek (Damages, The Event). He’s in the opening credits but only in a one minute scene.
5 My elevator can only hold 2500lbs.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD
UPCOMING REVIEW: The Muppets