At one point, Eddie Murphy was considered one of the most popular and bankable actors in all of Hollywood, but in the past ten years, he has had little-to-no success outside of the Shrek franchise. After numerous critical and commercial failures that included god-awful entries like Showtime, I Spy, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Norbit, and Meet Dave, many were understandably skeptical when it was announced that Murphy would making his return to the big screen in Tower Heist. Make no mistake; the Ocean’s Eleven franchise proved that audiences respond positively to ensemble crime capers, but trading in Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt for Brett Ratner, Ben Stiller, and Eddie Murphy, did little more than give Tower Heist a decidedly B-level feel. Granted, I do have to give the film credit for its relevance to today’s economic environment, as virtually everyone has some opinion concerning a Bernie Madoff-like villain and can cheer for working-class heroes taking on Wall Street fat cats. As the first big release during the always-busy and successful Holiday Film Season, Tower Heist had quite a bit to prove, and frankly, I wasn’t convinced that anything could restore my faith in the once-great Eddie Murphy.
In retrospect, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Tower Heist, as the film gives off a distinct energy and clever level of comedy, and those accolades are due almost entirely to Ben Stiller. As the everyman hero pushed to the edge, Stiller brings a character to life that showcases some of the best qualities that have made him famous, and so, by extension, audiences will instantaneously find themselves cheering for his success. Stiller may be the clear star, but his supported by a strong cast of distinct characters; Murphy gained some of his credibility back in a enjoyably-subdued performance, but the clear standouts are the malicious Alan Alda and sassy-yet-sweet Téa Leoni. The heist itself is cleverly paced and decidedly unique, despite a few confusing elements and questionable jumps in logic, making the story in its entirety humorous and entertaining. It may not be perfect or have the same charm or charisma showcased by Ocean’s Eleven, but Tower Heist is still an able entry in the crime caper genre that is well-worth seeing.
Overall Recommendation: High
