Photo by: washingtonexaminer.com
‘From the opening scene to the credits, “Tower Heist” lives up to its name as a big-time blockbuster as the movie’s viewers enjoy the voyeuristic feeling of being “on the inside.”
Director Brett Ratner chooses to introduce the audience into the inner-workings of the booming New York apartment complex, The Tower, by way of manager Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller). Soon after, the audience joins Kovacs and his group in an attempted “heist” of The Tower to unconventionally take back millions of dollars of stolen cash.
It was with only the best intentions in mind that Kovacs, a well-respected and highly efficient worker at The Tower, invested the pensions of his entire staff with the wealthiest resident of The Tower, Arthur Shaw. When Shaw is caught by the FBI and revealed as a fraud, the livelihoods of the eclectic mix of staff members are all put on the line.
This may seem somewhat far-fetched and ridiculous, but this plot twist provides a foundation for the audience to connect emotionally with the cast of characters, as well as a justification for what Kovacs plots as a result.
To heroically return Shaw’s money to its deserving owners, Kovacs plots an elaborate scheme to break into Shaw’s apartment and raid his safe. Kovacs enlists the help of Slide, a petty criminal played by comedic legend Eddie Murphy, who is expected to develop the other innocent members of the group into crooks.
The other members of the gang assembled by Kovacs include building concierge Charlie Gibbs (Casey Affleck), former Wall Street investor Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), Jamaican maid Odessa Montero (Gabourey Sidibe) and bellhop Enrique Dev’reaux (Michael Peña).
The combination of the goofy, delinquent Slide, rational Gibbs, young and enthusiastic Peña and desperate Mr. Fitzhugh provides for an over-the-top cast of characters and plenty of laughs.
The film’s humor often draws from cultural misconceptions and racial stereotypes. For instance, Gibbs proudly greets a tenant with flowers and kind words on Chinese New Year, oblivious to the fact that she is Korean.
He mistakes her bemused smile for a sign of gratitude as his colleagues snicker at his stupidity.
Similarly, Kovacs gives a run-down of The Tower to newly hired Dev’reaux, explaining that, “The average apartment in the tower costs 5.6 million dollars. We have the best views, the most advanced security system, but do you know what these people are really buying?”
“White neighbors?” Dev’reaux responds.
The film also incorporates certain morals, such as the triviality of money, as it incriminates Shaw for his greed and lack of heart.
When the news of the attempted suicide of a doorman is delivered to Shaw by Kovacs, Shaw responds indifferently, provoking Kovacs to further criticize him.
While “Tower Heist” may not astound audiences with its ingenuity, it is likely to deliver a few good laughs and an enjoyable evening – a stellar choice for either a night out on a date or with a group of friends.
