'Tower Heist' functions relatively well as a comedy and there are some genuinely funny scenes, but a few laughs here and there don't divert away from the fact that this is a generic, bland and frankly uninteresting film.Perhaps it serves a purpose as a quick comedy fix or a 'background' movie - something to stick on that you can vaguely follow whilst doing something more interesting. The plot is simple and does what it says on the tin with the heist being what the movie builds up to. It probably could have been over and done with in under an hour.This isn't a bad film, it's just an underwhelming one. Amusing here and there, but certainly not hilarious. Watchable, but not very interesting.

A terrible film by Brett Ratner, "Tower Heist" nevertheless boasts a strong first act. Here we're introduced to a colourful cast of lower and middle class characters, all of whom are responsible for the running of an exclusive apartment complex. When the money they've invested with the complex owner (Alan Alda) is fraudulently squandered, our heroes concoct a "tower heist"; they'll rob their boss and get back what they've lost.Attempting to cash in on a dying Occupy Wallstreet movement, and contemporary bash-a-banker trends, "Tower Heist's" heart is in the right place. Good performances from Casey Afflect, Eddie Murphy and the underrated Michael Pena elevate things as well. Unfortunately cinematic ultra hack Brett Ratner destroys everything he touches, and a creepily muscular Ben Stiller, who plays the Robin Hoodesque leader of our band of merry men, is wholly miscast as the "straight man".2/10 – Terrible.

Anyone looking for well thought out crime and cool, confident characters should steer clear of this movie. The title obviously labels it as a crime movie, which it is, but its focus is much more on comedy. Going into it with no prior knowledge, one would think that it is similar to Ocean's Eleven considering the crime element and the star cast. The crime element is really more of a subplot of emotional tension between the protagonist Josh (Ben Stiller) and the antagonist swindler Shaw (Alan Ada). Josh's feelings toward Shaw go from friendship to distrust to complete averseness as he gains more information about Shaw's escape/abduction. There are a lot of minor roles in this movie since the heist is being made for the benefit of the apartment's staff. Each of their parts develop slightly and you have a good sense of every one of them by the end. Like most crime movies, there is a stronger motive than money to the robbery. It is a motive of revenge against Shaw for scamming all of the workers and for Josh to right the wrong he made in giving Shaw their money in the first place. The main roles, played by Stiller, Casey Affleck, Mathew Brodrick, and Micheal Pena are members of the apartment staff. Ben Stiller's character Josh is the manager of the Tower, and we see much of his usual style of humor (personally I felt like he did better with this than in Night at the Museam). Casey Affleck's part of Charlie is Josh's brother-in-law and another member of the staff who becomes a double turncoat. He is very nervous throughout and his comedy and role are very different from in the Ocean's trilogy. Mathew Brodrick plays a Wall Street man whose home and family are being figuratively stolen from him by the bank (this predicament brings in a few laughs). His character is more similar to his role in the Cable Guy than in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Michael Pena plays the new elevator operator, who starts off as rather stiff with his new job, but gradually turns into a slightly irreverent and natural crook. None of the four have any idea of how to steal so much as a box of crackers, so they employ Josh's recently jailed friend Slide, played by Eddie Murphy. Although he shows up high on the cast list, he doesn't actually become a big part until more than halfway through. Some of the best scenes come when Slide tries to teach the others how to be criminals, though some of the typical Murphy language gets a little excessive at times. The other three main roles come from the Jamaican maid and safe-cracker, and the FBI agent that kind of half assists Josh and his team, and finally the doorman Lester who becomes the main motivation for the heist. In terms of the comedy and crime balance, I would say it is primarily comedy, but there are some pretty good twists of criminal nature near the end. Only in the climax are both elements really combined. For most of the movie, the progression of the robbery and the humorous situations are kept separate. The high-stakes heist is not done very professionally, but is nonetheless plausible. Most of the comedy is verbal, but there is some situational humor like the scene at the mall when Slide meets the others. If you liked The Other Guys, this is a good fit for you. Watch it for a good laugh, but not with a group that's going to chat away the whole time since there are some serious moments where you need to pay attention. Overall Rating: 8.4/10.

I am 20 minutes into this movie and it has passed the 20 min test. I usually loathe Ben Stiller in anything but he is watchable in this.I think he is much better as a quasi serious actor than a comic one - there is something unlikable about him in out and out comic parts. I expect the movie to be OK because Alan Alda is in it and he rarely does rubbish movies. Eddie Murphy, too , is one of my least favourite movie stars - I still have not forgiven Coming to America! Tower Heist promises to be a lightweight but enjoyable caper movie. One of my favourite genres, let's hope that it lives up to its promise. I recorded it just to see how awful it was and up to now it has proved to be anything but. It is always a pleasant surprise when something you expect to hate turns out to be entertaining.