ViewGuide

Created Mar 20, 2012 01:23PM PST • Edited Jul 26, 2014 06:53PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Not especially funny or thrilling, Tower Heist does offer a proven cast of name actors and a topical story. In fairness, I viewed it on an airliner seatback screen. While seeing it in the theater is no longer an option, viewing it on a big flatscreen in a home theater may have stimulated a higher rating.

   Then again, why watch it at home when there are so many other choices?

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Ben Stiller plays the straight man here, creating a comedic deficit the movie doesn’t otherwise fill.

   Eddie Murphy provides a jolt of comedic edginess when he’s onscreen, which isn’t often enough. Even so, his comic thug is a dim echo of the classic one he played in 48 Hours.

   The rest of the high dollar cast are very good, just not very funny or very pathetic or very thrilling.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Barely OK 2.0

    Imagine Bernie Madoff living in Trump Tower, where he gets ripped off by a bunch of Robin Hoods. As Great Recession revenge fantasies go, this is a great concept. Pity that the execution didn’t score better on the laugh or thrills meters.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play Pretty Bad 1.5

    The credits list five writers, rarely a good sign. The flat result speaks for itself.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

    Lots of nasty talk challenges the PG-13. Oh yeah, a guy whose wife is soon to give birth repeatedly uses the word Vagina. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

17. Sex Innocent 1.2

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Profane 3.0

21. Reality

    Surreal 2.3

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.5

23. Biological Glib 1.9

24. Physical Surreal 2.4