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eddie murphy tower heist

Tower Heist

Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy

Directed by Brett Ratner
Rolling Stone: star rating
5 2.5
Community: star rating
November 3, 2011

There's not much to say about a jerry-built caper comedy, except that this one has timeliness on it side, and some first-rate clowns. The employees at a gilded Manhattan apartment complex, led by manager Ben Stiller, decide to rob the ass of a Madoff-like billionaire in the penthouse (a supremely slimy Alan Alda). Why? He's bilked them out of their pensions. Stiller recruits a bankrupt resident (Matthew Broderick) and a bellhop (Michael Peña). But the friskiest conspirator is Slide (Eddie Murphy), a thief with his own agenda. Stiller is the Man when you want to add soul to silliness. And it's great to see Murphy dump the Dr. Dolittle drool and play street again. Director Brett Ratner doesn't exactly tie up loose ends; the whole movie is loose ends. But it's a kick to watch a Ponzi-schemer get his. You won't remember Tower Heist an hour later, but the top cast makes the jokes (even the lousy ones) go down easy.

Related
At the Movies With Peter Travers: 'Tower Heist' is Uneven, But Timely
Eddie Murphy Speaks: Why He’s Quitting Family Movies – and May Return to Stand-Up
Photos: Eddie Murphy on His Legacy, the Oscars and 'Saturday Night Live'

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