Last Friday, we had Tower Heist for dinner. We went there without much expectations, as is so often the rule when it comes to sitcoms. One shouldn't expect a movie-making masterpiece, but that is not a problem anyway. Sitcoms do what they should: Give you a good and easy laugh! And it did. The old recipe of comedians (Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy) can still put off some good laughs, I must admit!
But not always so, for the first half hour was very boring and regular. It is the standard introduction of the environment, in this case "The Tower", a gigantic skyscraper where the high and rich can spend their days embalmed in luxury and high quality service. We see Ben Stiller as its manager, the one to make sure everything is alright. I will not really use elements from the story, because you can also read a short introduction. These first touches are boring but necessary: They contradict what is about to follow when the sh*t hits the fan, the ricochet. Only, the problem was that this part of the film lasted just a little too long. But what followed made everything right, nonetheless.
The casting isn't special, but it works, an older formula with a new touch. Who doesn't know the comedy about businessmen whose life is about to get into serious sh*t? Trading Places, Liar Liar, anyone? Who doesn't know Eddie Murphy, always there to turn even the most serious and formal places into a mess. And don't forget Ben Stiller, who happens to take up a role much more serious than we're used to.
If I have made you think that this is just a comedy, well, not entirely. It has action in it, and some parts actually gave me the thrills (I have fear of heights). Comedy and action has also proved a very good combination, for example "The Hangover".
So far so good. It might seem like a cliché, which it actually is, but it's good. It's nigh impossible to think of an original comedy story, because there's an ungodly amount of them made every year. Elements of older comedies are used by the new ones, creating slightly different ideas every time. Think about it for a longer time and you'll see the simplicity in them, which you could... but... maybe you shouldn't. Why not? Because these movies aren't made for thinking, but laughing, enjoying.
Conclusion: I can recommend this movie to anyone looking for some nice and easy sitcom fun. That's what you want, that's what you'll get. I promise, you will not be disappointed. This movie is nothing special compared to its other comedy counterparts, but neither are they. This is everything a comedy SHOULD be: Fun. [8/10]
But not always so, for the first half hour was very boring and regular. It is the standard introduction of the environment, in this case "The Tower", a gigantic skyscraper where the high and rich can spend their days embalmed in luxury and high quality service. We see Ben Stiller as its manager, the one to make sure everything is alright. I will not really use elements from the story, because you can also read a short introduction. These first touches are boring but necessary: They contradict what is about to follow when the sh*t hits the fan, the ricochet. Only, the problem was that this part of the film lasted just a little too long. But what followed made everything right, nonetheless.
The casting isn't special, but it works, an older formula with a new touch. Who doesn't know the comedy about businessmen whose life is about to get into serious sh*t? Trading Places, Liar Liar, anyone? Who doesn't know Eddie Murphy, always there to turn even the most serious and formal places into a mess. And don't forget Ben Stiller, who happens to take up a role much more serious than we're used to.
If I have made you think that this is just a comedy, well, not entirely. It has action in it, and some parts actually gave me the thrills (I have fear of heights). Comedy and action has also proved a very good combination, for example "The Hangover".
So far so good. It might seem like a cliché, which it actually is, but it's good. It's nigh impossible to think of an original comedy story, because there's an ungodly amount of them made every year. Elements of older comedies are used by the new ones, creating slightly different ideas every time. Think about it for a longer time and you'll see the simplicity in them, which you could... but... maybe you shouldn't. Why not? Because these movies aren't made for thinking, but laughing, enjoying.
Conclusion: I can recommend this movie to anyone looking for some nice and easy sitcom fun. That's what you want, that's what you'll get. I promise, you will not be disappointed. This movie is nothing special compared to its other comedy counterparts, but neither are they. This is everything a comedy SHOULD be: Fun. [8/10]