Is “Tower Heist” worth its weight in gold? I say, it’s a steal!
In the wonderful and glamorous world of professional movie reviewing, one may think that I just see the movie, then tell you about it.
But no, no, no. That’s not how I do it. I get into the slop! I roll around and I listen to what the buzz is on the film I’m seeing. I hit the theatre early, I hover around the ticket line, then I ask what people are seeing. Some people have no problems chatting with me about movies, while others look at me in my “movie slippers,” my hoodie pulled over my head, and my “man-bag” draped over my arm, (its European) and they pretty much, “head for zee hills!”
It’s not as glamorous of a life as you may think, I just make it look pretty.
Well, this week as I was working it at the cineplex, I did talk to some people. The lovely couple that was in line in front of me was seeing the same film as I was, “Tower Heist.”
I asked this cute little twosome if they had heard anything on the movie. They said that it looked funny and had some good actors in it, so that’s why they were seeing it. Then, all of a sudden, some nosey know-it-all behind us had to put his two cents in and says, “Oh, don’t go see that. I saw it already, it sucked!”
Boy, did this really grind my gears! But I held it together, like a true professional movie reviewer does, and I said, “Too late buddy, we already bought our tickets! So, enjoy your movie Butterbean!” And then me and the cutesome-twosome proceeded into our theatre to enjoy “Tower Heist” (on a side note, that couple I walked in with, sat on the opposite side of the theatre from me… and they ran to their seats! Did I do something wrong? Nah.).
Let’s talk about the movie.
“Tower Heist” is a story about a bunch of regular blue-collar workers, working at the most expensive high-rise condo complex in New York City.
Living in the penthouse is Arthur Shaw, (well acted by Alan Alda) a Wall Street tycoon who can take your money and triple it! Sounds good, eh?
What isn’t good is that all the regular shmoes that work there (unknowingly) had all their retirement money tied up with Arthur Shaw: ponzi scheme artist! And of course, Mr. Shaw loses it all.
What’s even worse is that Mr. Shaw keeps living in the penthouse and treats them all like dirt.
Thats when Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller), the man who runs the building, and who gave all their money to Mr. Shaw, decides to take it back from him. By robbing him.
Josh Kovacs is no criminal, so he hires a thug named “Slide” (Eddie Murphy) to teach them how to steal… And thats where the story takes off.
This film is stacked with big name actors. Along with Stiller and Murphy are Boston’s own Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), and Heavy D, who sadly died recently. That really stinks.
But my two stand-out actors of the film were Tea Leoni (who was in “Deep Impact” – the better of the two asteroid movies of 1998) and Michael Pena (Shooter). Both darn good actors, and one, extremely pretty (Leoni).
I think this movie may have been playing around with older movies that the famous actors have been in. I noticed in one part they put Matthew Broderick in a parade scene and he had a very similar car (a red ferrari) to Cameron Frey’s father’s car in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Then, Ben Stiller bails out Eddie Murphy from jail, just like in “Trading Places.”
And finally, as all the characters are pre-gaming for the robbery, it seems as if they are mocking (or paralleling) the scene from “Ocean’s 11,” starring, yup, that’s right, Casey Affleck! Now, I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but did they do this on purpose? Watch and let me know.
Anyhow, when you have an ensemble cast like they did in this film, you should come out with at least a pretty good movie. And they did. I thought this film was funny, interesting and downright good entertainment… And that’s all I’m asking for, just to be entertained.
So, I must say this to “Butterbean” from the Dedham movie theatre: “Keep your reviews to yourself and leave it to the professionals!”
I’m too funny.
Thanks for reading the Patch, and I’ll see you at the cinema.
Matty W. Kelley