Review of Tower Heist (2011) by Rameshwar N — 12 Oct 2012

Strictly run-of-the-mill B plot if not for Eddie Murphy's hilarious rants bringing back the donkey in him. Otherwise it is a failure on both comedy and heist genres.

John Kovaks (Ben Stiller) is 'The Tower' hotel manager who is passionate about his job and always goes by the book. One day on his attempt to thwart one of the permanent guest Arthur Shaw's (Alan Alda) kidnapping, he finds out that it was an attempt to flee from FBI who are closing in on his security frauds and bankruptcy. More to it, all the hotel staff's pension money was invested with Mr. Shaw. When one of the employee makes a suicide attempt and after an unintentional tip from his acquaintance FBI agent Claire Denham (Téa Leoni), he hatches up a plan teaming up with a few trusted hotel staff and a small time crook Slide (Eddie Murphy).

Convoluted, half-baked and unfunny. A saving grace is a little role from Eddie Murphy who brings some justice to the comedy part of the movie. When it comes to heist part, there is nothing to save it. Actors including Casey Affleck and Michael Peña try their best to save this misguided script and can only make it just watchable. Rest of the departments do a forgettable job including background score, cinematography, action choreography etc.

Eddie Murphy shows he can still be the best in this uncooked plot.