Tower Heist (www.the-usher.com)

"We're not criminals. We don't know how to steal... "

The Tower is a high-rise luxury apartment complex on Central Park West catering for the richest people in New York City. Building Manager Josh Kovacs (Stiller) and his staff run the building to the highest of standards. The most important resident is wealthy businessman Arthur Shaw (Alda), and Josh has entrusted the pension fund of all the Tower’s employee’s with him but when he is arrested by the FBI, Josh discovered that the money has gone and Shaw is not even going to get charged for it. Desperate to get the money back, Josh comes up with a plan to find the money in Shaw’s penthouse apartment and steal their pension fund back but he needs the help of Slide (Murphy), a criminal from his old neighbourhood, to put the heist together.

Eddie Murphy’s career has been on a downward slide for years but can ‘Tower Heist’ resurrect his live action comedy career?

When it comes to naming the last time Eddie Murphy gave a truly great comedic performance, you struggle to name anything but his vocal performance as ‘Donkey’ in the ‘Shrek’ franchise. This is the man who brought us ‘Trading Places’, ‘Coming to America’, ‘48hrs’ and ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ but then starred in ‘Pluto Nash’, ‘Daddy Day Care’, ‘Doctor Dolittle’, ‘Meet Dave’, ‘Nutty Professor’ and the truly dreadful ‘Norbit’. With the ‘Shrek’ franchise aside and a good dramatic turn in ‘Dreamgirls’, people continue to ask the question… “Do you remember when Eddie Murphy was good?” With ‘Tower Heist’ that question is now answered, as it is the best live action role he has had in over a decade.

Director Brett Ratner, best known for the ‘Rush Hour’ films and ruining the ‘X-Men’ franchise with third movie ‘The Last Stand’, returns to his earlier form to bring an all-star comedy heist flick that is fun from start to finish. Gathering together a cast that excel in this genre, Ratner’s flashy style and eye for the set piece suites the film. While there are not any real laugh-out-loud moments, the cast of characters, the pace and the heist itself will keep you engaged and smiling throughout.

It is the cast that draws you in and Ben Stiller leads the cast really well. He can play the everyman very well and as building manager Josh Kovas, he is a character that the audience can get behind. Casey Affleck leaves the more dramatic roles behind and returns to comedy as Charlie, the concierge of the building. The man who will be forever known as ‘Ferris Bueller’, Matthew Broderick is also good as Mr. Fitzhugh, a man who has lost everything due to Shaw’s investments. Oscar-nominee Gabourey Sidibe is excellent as the cleaner Odessa and Alan Alda is always good and plays Arthur Shaw with a villainous touch. This is Eddie Murphy’s film however and his return to form as Slide makes ‘Tower Heist’ all the more watchable.

‘Tower Heist’ is a fun film that might not be the funniest of comedies but it will raise a smile throughout. With enough twists and turns to keep you engaged and characters you will want to succeed, ‘Tower Heist’ should be known as the film that saw the return of Eddie Murphy to his comedic best.

Feature Commentary with Director Brett Ratner, Editor Mark Helfrich and Co- Writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson
Alternative ending: 15 Months Later...
Alternative ending: Lester’s Bar
Deleted scenes
Gag reel
Tower Heist video diary
Plotting Tower Heist:
The Ratner/Grazer Connection Part One; The Conspirators;
The Ratner/Grazer Connection Part Two; Set Pieces;
The Ratner/Grazer Connection Part Three; The Car;
The Ratner/Grazer Connection Part Four

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2011