Movie time - Tower Heist
Mar. 29th, 2012 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23I probably should start by saying that I did like this movie.
Now, if I recall correctly, this was supposed to be a blockbuster family-oriented comedy that would likely spawn a franchise. It didn't, and watching it, I get why.
It has a rough go- in that it needs to set up an Oceans 11 storyline, wants to make social commentary on madoff-style scammers, and still wants to be a slapstick comedy.
It probably should have went for the funny. The 'heist' part is too outrageous to be believed, and the movie spedns a good deal of time setting it up.
I was engaged the whole time, so I was satisfied. I did enjoy the cast a lot- with Ben Stiller and Alan Alda keeping me tuned in.
It's just it's not the instant family comedy classic it hoped to be.
In its defense, it have a scene (in the mall, we will just say) that is as funny as anything I have seen all year. Credit must go to a supporting cast complementing Stiller and Eddie Murphy that is a step above (Michael Pena, Casey Affleck, and Matthew Broderick). Murphy (for his recent movie misfires) is one of the high points, but he is sparsely used.
The movie also sets up a good "good guy vs bad guy" premise. it just has too much working against it. It throws the movie into that unfortunate category of 'movie you'd enjoy if nothing else is on, and you've got time to kill."
I can only recommend with the reservation not to expect much out of it.
Now, if I recall correctly, this was supposed to be a blockbuster family-oriented comedy that would likely spawn a franchise. It didn't, and watching it, I get why.
It has a rough go- in that it needs to set up an Oceans 11 storyline, wants to make social commentary on madoff-style scammers, and still wants to be a slapstick comedy.
It probably should have went for the funny. The 'heist' part is too outrageous to be believed, and the movie spedns a good deal of time setting it up.
I was engaged the whole time, so I was satisfied. I did enjoy the cast a lot- with Ben Stiller and Alan Alda keeping me tuned in.
It's just it's not the instant family comedy classic it hoped to be.
In its defense, it have a scene (in the mall, we will just say) that is as funny as anything I have seen all year. Credit must go to a supporting cast complementing Stiller and Eddie Murphy that is a step above (Michael Pena, Casey Affleck, and Matthew Broderick). Murphy (for his recent movie misfires) is one of the high points, but he is sparsely used.
The movie also sets up a good "good guy vs bad guy" premise. it just has too much working against it. It throws the movie into that unfortunate category of 'movie you'd enjoy if nothing else is on, and you've got time to kill."
I can only recommend with the reservation not to expect much out of it.
