RichC2

"When Murphy's on screen in his classic comic mode, it's hard to focus on anyone or anything else. It's as if we've turned back time and erased all those family-friendly duds and lame laughers..." -Christy Lemire (AP)

"The timely socio-economic context is just a premise for a broadly entertaining if implausibly plotted caper comedy, which lacks the glamour and stars of Soderbergh's Ocean's movies but offers Eddie Murphy one of his strongest parts in a long time." -Emanuel Levy

Could be a solid career resurrection vehicle for Murphy, along w/ the Oscar hosting gig. Currently standing at 77% with 22 reviews.

The ads have been way overkill, especially on Comedy Central.

MrSmearkase

I'm surprised at the positive attention to Eddie Murphy. His character serves little purpose to the film overall, and he may as well be absent for the third act.

Throwing Copper

It's just good to have Eddie Murphy back.

Hopefully, he's done doing those kids movies and gets back to his 1980s roots.

EdTheRipper

He's got an interview in the new issue of Rolling Stone where he says that he has no interest in family movies at this point. That's definitely a step in the right direction.

resinrats

Saw it this afternoon. Not bad but not great. It seemed there were a few scenes missing. One where Tea Leoni finds out Ben is behind the heist. She suddenly just knows he is in on it even though there was nothing to indicate he would try something.

Also how the court date was 'moved'. I remember Ben mentioning it had been moved but not how it got moved.

mh4268

^ May want to spoiler some of that. At least the last part

davidh777

Didn't expect much but I found the movie entertaining. I'm a sucker for caper movies and this one had a few surprises in it. I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Kory

I LOVE Eddie Murphy, and I'm an apologist for even his worst films, but I agree with this. I was a little underwhelmed overall. I didn't like "fast-talking" Eddie Murphy that much.

PenguinJoe

My girlfriend said it would've been better of Stiller was the thief and Murphy was the smooth apartment manager.

Giles

I was surprised how well Michael Pena pulled off his comedic scenes.

Charlie Goose

I thought it was very funny. Alan Alda was terrifically slimy as the villain.
The entire cast was excellent, even got some laughs from Gabourey Sidibe.

Of course, the plot has a few glaring holes, but what film doesn't?


I thought Murphy looked really old, but that may be because he was making goofy faces throughout.

The ending:

Giles

PenguinJoe

This can't be good PR for the movie

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment...-for-****.html


Brett Ratner: ‘Rehearsing Is for ****’

Last week, Brett Ratner told the world that yes, he did "bang" Olivia Munn, but it was "before she was Asian" (an admission he made not while under questioning by Howard Stern but as a guest on a basic cable talk show). Ratner grew no less shy this weekend, according to Twitter and several Vulture sources: After a screening of his film Tower Heist at L.A.'s Arclight Cinemas, the director came out for a Q&A, and when asked by the moderator whether he prepares and rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene, Ratner waved his hand dismissively and said, "Rehearsal is for ****." Let's hope Ratner revises that attitude prior to producing this year's Academy Awards ceremony, or at least before he lands the next pitch meeting for his dream project, an adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked.

Giles

please tell me you're joking...

PopcornTreeCt

What is the ****? Ratner comes off like the prototypical sleazy Hollywood producer/director you always hear stories about.

Rob V

Rob V

Agreed. His interview on Howard Stern proved that he's every bit the egotistical douchebag you'd stereotype in a bad B-movie.

davidh777

I don't get the "Asian" joke

riotinmyskull

i think he just meant before she played up her asian background....not sure really

Patman

I found this film to be a hodge-podge of screenwriting, just barely paying enough attention to provide any form of character development for a somewhat wide cast of characters who either work or live in a hotel for wealthy folks in New York City, and keying in on a timely public sentiment when it comes to the Occupy movement, and the Bernie Madeoff ponzi schemes.

I'm grateful that the marketing keeps most of the 3rd act underwraps, and just props up the premise of the film (Alan Alda's character being a Bernie Madeoff-like character, and bilked large sums of people's retirement, including the crew from the hotel he lived in, and some of the hotel crew go after a probable getaway nest egg of $20 million). Ben Stiller has very little to do while being the lead character, playing far too much of the straight guy to garner much laughs from his character, even with Eddie Murphy acting on a manic level that thoroughly overwhelms the rest of the acting energy from the cast.

It would make for a decent matinee viewing to pass a few hours.

I give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.

Jack Straw

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movi...-gay-slur.html

"Bye-Bye...."

Charlie Goose

Can't even say *** anymore?

How long before "lame" is outlawed because it refers to the handicapped?

jfoobar

Saw this today. It was better than I expected it to be. I would put it somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3 stars. Tea Leoni looked really good in it () and I liked her performance a lot. She usually does not play such confident characters.

kristina

I saw this one yesterday with my mom and a friend of hers. We all agreed it kept our attention but it wasn't the greatest movie ever. I only went to see it because Matthew Broderick was in it...and something about his performance just didn't seem right. To me, it seemed like either he wasn't right for the role, or it was just bad acting on his part.
I would love to watch some bonus material on the DVD and find out how they did all of the stunts with the car.

Numanoid

Was there a time when you could (outside of a frat house)?