Tower Heist (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Manu G

  
  Ordinary guys. An extraordinary robbery. Good movie! It is actually very entertaining and the performances from the entire cast are solid. I laughed a lot and more than I expected. It also has quite a few twists and turns which I wasn't expecting and which should keep you… More
  Ordinary guys. An extraordinary robbery. Good movie! It is actually very entertaining and the performances from the entire cast are solid. I laughed a lot and more than I expected. It also has quite a few twists and turns which I wasn't expecting and which should keep you interested. The chemistry between Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy is very good too and they both provide a couple of very memorable scenes. If you are looking for something to pass the time this movie would be a very good choice. Josh Kovacs is the manager of a residential apartment in New York. He is close to all the tenants, especially Arthur Shaw, a financier. One day Shaw is arrested by the FBI for fraud. Josh thinks it's a misunderstanding that can be resolved. But later he learns that the employees' pension which he asked Shaw to handle is gone. When one of the employees tries to kill himself, Josh's views of Shaw change. He goes to see him and loses his temper. He loses his job. The FBI agent in charge of Shaw tells him that Shaw might walk and recovering the pension fund is unlikely. She tells him that it's been rumored that Shaw has 20 million laying around if he needs. Josh thinks he knows where it is. So with two other employees who also lost their jobs and an evicted tenant, they set out to get into Shaw's penthouse to get the money. But they realise they need the assistance of someone who knows what they are doing. So, Josh asks a guy he knows is a thief named Slide to help them.

• Justin Y

  
  Brett Ratner decides to travel down the comedic crime path with <i>Tower Heist</i>. Does it pay off? Not really.<p>The plot behind this picture is far from elaborate, yet at the same time, it is acceptable enough to not be considered a joke. Complete with plot… More
  Brett Ratner decides to travel down the comedic crime path with <i>Tower Heist</i>. Does it pay off? Not really.<p>The plot behind this picture is far from elaborate, yet at the same time, it is acceptable enough to not be considered a joke. Complete with plot holes and a lot of early story buildup, 100 minutes of screen-time seemingly passes by without much to like or hate.</p><p>A drop dead humorous film this is not. The laughs are minimal with only a few chuckles to be had, but this is needed since it is very difficult to take the cast of characters very seriously with a complex and luxurious heist job; however, this film does show small spurts of that.</p><p>There really isn't anything outside of the box when it comes to the performances. Most of it comes down to the characters themselves. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy are just as expected. They get the job done. Nothing more, nothing less. The same can be said about the rest of the supporting cast.</p><p>At the end of the day, <i>Tower Heist</i> is part comedy and part caper. It doesn't excel in anyway. It just gets by.</p>

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Michael Peña, Téa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Alan Alda, Judd Hirsch, Nina Arianda Director: Brett Ratner Summrary: When a group of workers at a ritzy Manhattan condo realize their boss has swindled them out of their… More
  Cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Michael Peña, Téa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Alan Alda, Judd Hirsch, Nina Arianda Director: Brett Ratner Summrary: When a group of workers at a ritzy Manhattan condo realize their boss has swindled them out of their pensions, they vow to reap their own justice. With the cooperation of the building manager, the group devises an ingenious plot to recover the funds. My Thoughts: "The film had a great cast of actors to be such a bad film. I expected more considering the actors the film had lined up. The movie was kinda funny. It had interesting characters, but I think what really made this film fall flat was the story. It wasn't too original and the whole take from rich and give to poor Robin Hood syndrome has been done so much. The film had moments and not enough of them to deserve more praise then what little I am giving it. I loved Gabourey Sidibe. She was the best part of the film. Eddi Murphy was over the top in his performance and ended up just annoying me. Not the best they could have done with a cast like this, and it's a shame."

• Crash E

  
  Funny enough, especially eddie murphy, and I liked the end because it was so real by going to the jail.

• Alexis N

  
  I don't really know what to say about this movie. i liked it. It was funny. The Robin Hood plot has been done before, but I would still say, "See it.. on tv or Netflix."

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] This is a very entertaining heist movie that doesn't rob you of your money. It's good to see Eddie Murphy's perform overly energetic in a comedy again that's actually pretty funny. A weak… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] This is a very entertaining heist movie that doesn't rob you of your money. It's good to see Eddie Murphy's perform overly energetic in a comedy again that's actually pretty funny. A weak point is that esides Ben Stiller most of the cast are under used and stars like Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda are given barely anything. The film sincerely lacks the sophistication of Ocean's Eleven but its still fun to watch the cast pull it off as the heist scenes get pretty tense and exciting. There's an invisible line for decent forgettable popcorn entertainment. This film's quite a bit above it.

• Drake T

  
  Pretty solid for a heist film but the humor's not exactly as in your face or outright hilarious as a comedy should feel (especially one with stars like Stiller and Murphy who're both well versed in the genre.) It's a shame because the film had plenty of heart, drama, a… More
  Pretty solid for a heist film but the humor's not exactly as in your face or outright hilarious as a comedy should feel (especially one with stars like Stiller and Murphy who're both well versed in the genre.) It's a shame because the film had plenty of heart, drama, a solid story (though not as multi-layered as you'd hope) and a great cast that was grossly underused. (I wanted to see more of Jamaican lady and just everyone!). Still, with films like Oceans Eleven setting the bar you can't help but feel that an iconic, rememberable aspect of the movie just wasn't there. By no means a terrible movie, it delivers enough laughs and suspense to be worth the watch but just doesn't really carry through with enough gusto/chemistry to leave an impression.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  three stars

• Chris M

  
  It's not cool and slick like most heist films, it's more of a normal guy kind of heist film. It's a comedy, but the only thing that was funny was Eddie Murphy (Who I thought should of been in it more than he was.) When the film eventually gets to the scene where Ben… More
  It's not cool and slick like most heist films, it's more of a normal guy kind of heist film. It's a comedy, but the only thing that was funny was Eddie Murphy (Who I thought should of been in it more than he was.) When the film eventually gets to the scene where Ben Stiller's character decides to assign Eddie's character to teach them how to steal, the movie starts to get good. And when the film gets to the big heisting, you really have to suspend your dis-belief as to whats going on. None of it rose to greatness, it all ended up being decent. Though it did show a cool return for Eddie Murphy as the funny man he is. Overall it was a fun time, but nothing to write home about.

• Dead A

  
  Loved it.

• Jeff "

  
  Brett Ratner's Tower Heist is a decent heist flick, and is probably Ratner best film since Red Dragon. Tower Heist is not a great film by a long shot, but it still manages to be fun. Usually I hate Brett Ratner's films, I find him to be a very so-so director. This film is… More
  Brett Ratner's Tower Heist is a decent heist flick, and is probably Ratner best film since Red Dragon. Tower Heist is not a great film by a long shot, but it still manages to be fun. Usually I hate Brett Ratner's films, I find him to be a very so-so director. This film is one of his better efforts. Tower Heist however is derivative from other heist flicks, and though is entertaining and fun, it uses a tired out formula. Tower Heist is a film that despite good moments, simply isn't a memorable film by any means. The film has good comic bits here and there, but it's not as funny as what people have claimed it to be. Tower Heist is not the type of film that demands multiple viewings, this is pretty forgettable in the long run, and there are far better heist films than this film. Tower Heist is a big cliché riddled film that uses every element from the genre to create a crime-capper comedy flick. Ratner is a director that can't seem to direct consistent films that are great, Red Dragon was good, but afterwards he just made crap. Tower Heist is simply a decent heist film with a few comic bits here and there. The cast are good, and do what they can with such a tired out formula. Tower Heist definitely a flawed film, but manages to be a good time despite the predictability of its plot. A decent film to watch, and considering that this is directed by Brett Ratner, this isn't too bad. However Tower Heist is not the type of film that you'd want to rewatch.

• Brad W

  
  Tower Heist was a decent film that mainly succeeds because it has brought back the funny side of comical genius Eddie Murphy. Lets face it, Murphy has had a rough few years but hopefully this means he is going to return from his stupid schtick and return to his days where he was the… More
  Tower Heist was a decent film that mainly succeeds because it has brought back the funny side of comical genius Eddie Murphy. Lets face it, Murphy has had a rough few years but hopefully this means he is going to return from his stupid schtick and return to his days where he was the funniest man alive. Other than that this is a slappy comedy that did not need to be a heist film. If the movie stuck to comedy it would have been better but overall it got very boring near the end and I did not laugh as much as i had hoped (with the exception of Murphy). Sad thing is that this is an all star cast with actors like Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Mathew Broderick, and Alan Alda but none of these men were even close to Murphy in this film and he is what saved it from sucking completely. I am going to be generous with the film becaus eit was able to give me hope in the future of Murphy's career but other than that I was very disappointed with the film and think it would have been better if they payed less attention on the story and more on comedy, like The Other Guys for example. Do not see this film looking for a laugh riot because you won't find it.

• Luke B

  
  Tower Heist is a working man's Ocean's 11. In the current state of the economy people should have lapped this up. A group of people working in the most expensive tower block of apartments, find themselves in trouble after they discover the man in charge of their pensions has… More
  Tower Heist is a working man's Ocean's 11. In the current state of the economy people should have lapped this up. A group of people working in the most expensive tower block of apartments, find themselves in trouble after they discover the man in charge of their pensions has swindled them all. The gang decide to rob him of his safety net which they believe is hidden in his apartment. They enlist the help of Slide to help them with the heist. The biggest problem with Tower Heist is that it goes for a light hearted caper, but just comes across as a half arsed heist movie and a half arsed comedy. It never joins the two genres together. It's not funny enough to be a comedy and it's not serious enough to be an action thriller. Stiller, Affleck and co. make a great ensemble. You feel their relationships and the agitation they feel towards each other. Broderick steals every scene he is in, and was the only character I really cared for. Murphy is just a ridiculous parody of himself, only this time he yells without any punchlines, The script is so patchy and confusing that I doubt it was proofread. A scene is set-up as the would be bank robbers are left on a freezing roof. The next shot, they are all inside. Some plot threads are never addressed, such as fooling the FBI and a series of lawyers. And during the climax everyone seemed to forget who was actually involved in the robbery. We see Stiller suddenly call a character that had previously no involvement with this plan. Enjoyable enough with the performances of Alda and Broderick, and a brave ending actually left me pleased when it finished.

• Mike S

  
  What a great comeback for Eddie Murphy! I haven't seen him this funny since his golden days back in the 80's (excluding his role as "Donkey" in the Shrek movies that is). Of course, this isn't his film alone, for it does involve some other talented actors as… More
  What a great comeback for Eddie Murphy! I haven't seen him this funny since his golden days back in the 80's (excluding his role as "Donkey" in the Shrek movies that is). Of course, this isn't his film alone, for it does involve some other talented actors as well. But compared to his comical and highly energized genius, they're just glorifed extras for all I care. Now, that isn't to say the movie as a whole is just as funny as Murphy is. In fact, the writing is really generic and even lackluster in parts. Particularily in the first half, where it was more snooze-inducing than enjoyable. Once Eddie Murphy takes the stage, however, things move up the entertainment ladder, treating us to some good laughs and caper-style excitement. Director Brett Ratner may be a money-grubbing deuche (which we just got confirmed even more after his recent IQ-deprived statements), but at least he knows how to provide a good time, when you're in the mood for some breezy and easily-digested fun. Very defective and uneven, but the cast and "Ocean's Eleven"-inspired plotline, makes it well worth the stay.

• Coxxie M

  
  i was making out with my girlfriend and going to the bathroom for most of the movie so i can't say anything that bad or good about it.

• Thomas A

  
  This is the worst movie I have seen in theaters in a long time. The heist itself is so dull and unimaginative, the plot was boring and predictable, the ending was just stupid and worst of all it wasn't funny. I feel bad for all the actors involved. Personally I love heist movies,… More
  This is the worst movie I have seen in theaters in a long time. The heist itself is so dull and unimaginative, the plot was boring and predictable, the ending was just stupid and worst of all it wasn't funny. I feel bad for all the actors involved. Personally I love heist movies, anything with a heist ill watch, but this was terrible. The big plan to get into the tower was called "going in on snoopy" which amounted to waiting till the guards came outside to see the Snoopy float in a parade, then sneaking inside. That is possibly the laziest writing Ive ever seen. Heist movies are even pretty standard, you assemble a couple interesting or funny characters and then set up an interesting heist. In this movies however the characters are boring and have barley any jokes. Worst of all each time there is a joke or one liner its delivered so poorly its as if the actors are waiting for laughter afterwards, and in a theater where noone laughs the movie manages to be awkward. I dont understand how this has anywhere near a fresh rating, stay away.

• Lenny M

  
  "We're gonna take the power back!' Pretty good fiiyhilm. Probably would have done better in the box office if Ratner was not a tower-sized doucher.

• Al S

  
  The best heist comedy since Oceans Eleven. It`s fresh, smart, well-crafted and surprisingly well-performend. A wickedly smart and insanely funny movie. It`s not just a great comedy but a great movie all together with a great script and an incrediable all-star cast who all deliver.… More
  The best heist comedy since Oceans Eleven. It`s fresh, smart, well-crafted and surprisingly well-performend. A wickedly smart and insanely funny movie. It`s not just a great comedy but a great movie all together with a great script and an incrediable all-star cast who all deliver. It`s Director, Brett Ratner`s best film since Rush Hour. It`s sheer escapsit enjoyment with some solidly drawn characters and some sharply shot scenes. It`s first class comic entertainment from start to finish. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy have never been better or funnier. Murphy is back in prime old-school comic form and its great to see him do his thing, he steals the show. Alan Alda is excellent. Casey Affleck, Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe and Matthew Broderick all deliver funny performances as the best crew of unlikely criminals ever. This cast just has wonderful chemistry and you can help but love to watch them. Crime comedies dont get any better than this. It delivers a ton of laughs and some exceptional social drama.

• EightThirty .

  
  22/11/2011 (ONLINE)

• Josh M

  
  Tower Heist is a diverting waste of time, that delivers with a star studded and charismatic cast. It's full of story holes, and it's not remotely as funny as it should be. Brett Ratner moves the action along well throughout. However, he only hits his stride with a fantastic… More
  Tower Heist is a diverting waste of time, that delivers with a star studded and charismatic cast. It's full of story holes, and it's not remotely as funny as it should be. Brett Ratner moves the action along well throughout. However, he only hits his stride with a fantastic Ferrari dangling heist sequence in the last half hour that stands alone as a true action flick classic, albeit an utterly implausible one. It combines the Macy's thanksgiving day parade, Trump Tower, a gold plated Ferrari and and car chases. Every actor in the film delivers a professional peformance, though they seem to be groping for a fizzy Oceans 11 chemistry that never happens. Stiller has the most screen time, and is a likeable, whiny presence. Don't be misled by thinking Eddie Murphy is truly a co-star, his role is a supporting one. Murphy makes somewhat of a sassy comedy comeback, in the vein of '48 Hours', but the film's comedy never soars, despite the promising chemistry with Stiller. Murphy's character, Slide, fades away in the last 20 minutes of the movie. Tea Leoni as the ranking FBI agent on the Alda fraud case, is attractive and sexy, but her budding romance wtih Stiller gets dropped in the last half hour. The only truly memorable turn is by antagonist Alan Alda as a charming yet evil Madoff-like snake, who steals all the investments away from his trusting working joe Tower staff, thereby motivating the 'heist'. There are no bellylaughs here, only quiet smiles, and there are zero surprises, except one: that this big budget studio movie that has every thing going for it is such a let down.

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