Sometimes it's fun to make a topical movie out of fodder from the current headlines. While not naming names, Tower Heist makes light- hearted fare out of a nasty situation in the financial world, where a certain somebody in New York made millions scheming movers, shakers, and celebrities.
So someone said "What if the little people fought back?" and we now have the movie "Tower Heist."
While not a critical success and barely breaking even at the box office, it's a fun movie to watch and watch again. The script has been criticized as "unfunny" and "illogical" but the tangled web characters weaved by the writers is outstanding and well-thought. The best example of this happens when Josh Kovacs, the "Tower" manager confronts Shaw, the master schemer, after the jolly doorman Lester, has attempted suicide. Shaw says "Of course I care what happens to Lester." Josh replies "Well how come you haven't asked whether he lived or died?"
Overlooked in the discussion about the movie has been the character Mr. Fitzhugh, played by Matthew Broderick. His character is the flip side of Shaw, as he was once a financial field high-flyer brought down to earth by possible bad decisions and bad luck. Yet even he is initially reluctant to join Josh Kovac's gang until he hears about Lester. Later, he has some of the funniest lines in the movie, and when he wrestles a gun away from the rogue Slide, does a hilarious attempt at trying to be a bada**.
Speaking of Slide, the Eddie Murphy character, this is Eddie Murphy getting back to his roots. The "Slide" character hearkens back to Reggie Hammond from 48 hours, 25-30 years later. Yes, it's a somewhat stereotypical character, but Eddie plays it well. His best scenes happen when Josh (Ben Stiller) bails him out of jail to ask for his help with the "Tower Heist." Slide: "Soooo, seizure boy wants to try to steal something. What you trying to steal?" Josh: "Twenty million dollars." Slide double takes and says "Let's go get something to eat!"
The producers originally wanted Robert Redford to come out of semi- retirement and play Shaw the schemer. Yet Alan Alda was a great choice and one of the high points of the movie. By and large he has always played good guys in his career, but his Hawkeye on MASH, the role for which he is most well-known, always had an edge. He shows that same talent in fleshing out Shaw, who tells chess match anecdotes to drive his points home.
Tea Leoni is almost unrecognizable as a brunette but does a competent turn as a tough FBI agent assigned to Shaw's case. Casey Affleck and Michael Pena round out the major cast as a whiny expectant father and a slightly flaky electronics school dropout, respectively. They all work together to make "Tower Heist" a fun way to spend an hour and a half at the movies.
So someone said "What if the little people fought back?" and we now have the movie "Tower Heist."
While not a critical success and barely breaking even at the box office, it's a fun movie to watch and watch again. The script has been criticized as "unfunny" and "illogical" but the tangled web characters weaved by the writers is outstanding and well-thought. The best example of this happens when Josh Kovacs, the "Tower" manager confronts Shaw, the master schemer, after the jolly doorman Lester, has attempted suicide. Shaw says "Of course I care what happens to Lester." Josh replies "Well how come you haven't asked whether he lived or died?"
Overlooked in the discussion about the movie has been the character Mr. Fitzhugh, played by Matthew Broderick. His character is the flip side of Shaw, as he was once a financial field high-flyer brought down to earth by possible bad decisions and bad luck. Yet even he is initially reluctant to join Josh Kovac's gang until he hears about Lester. Later, he has some of the funniest lines in the movie, and when he wrestles a gun away from the rogue Slide, does a hilarious attempt at trying to be a bada**.
Speaking of Slide, the Eddie Murphy character, this is Eddie Murphy getting back to his roots. The "Slide" character hearkens back to Reggie Hammond from 48 hours, 25-30 years later. Yes, it's a somewhat stereotypical character, but Eddie plays it well. His best scenes happen when Josh (Ben Stiller) bails him out of jail to ask for his help with the "Tower Heist." Slide: "Soooo, seizure boy wants to try to steal something. What you trying to steal?" Josh: "Twenty million dollars." Slide double takes and says "Let's go get something to eat!"
The producers originally wanted Robert Redford to come out of semi- retirement and play Shaw the schemer. Yet Alan Alda was a great choice and one of the high points of the movie. By and large he has always played good guys in his career, but his Hawkeye on MASH, the role for which he is most well-known, always had an edge. He shows that same talent in fleshing out Shaw, who tells chess match anecdotes to drive his points home.
Tea Leoni is almost unrecognizable as a brunette but does a competent turn as a tough FBI agent assigned to Shaw's case. Casey Affleck and Michael Pena round out the major cast as a whiny expectant father and a slightly flaky electronics school dropout, respectively. They all work together to make "Tower Heist" a fun way to spend an hour and a half at the movies.