As the Occupy movements capture media attention from major news outlets, Hollywood found it fitting to release Tower Heist, an action-comedy flick about working class individuals rising up against a Wall Street phat cat. Ben Stiller plays the role of Josh Kovaks, the manager of a high-class condo in present-day Manhattan. Through an impeccable attention to detail and excellent customer service, Josh has gained the respect and friendship of the resident elites, especially the owner of the Tower’s top suite, billionaire Wall Street genius Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda).
The level of trust Josh has for Mr. Shaw sets up the conflict--Shaw is allowed to manage the employee pension fund for all Tower workers. When an FBI investigation led by boozy Agent Claire Denham (Tea Leoni) reveals Shaw’s billion-dollar fraud, Josh is crushed, but quickly plots revenge. Kovak pulls together his team which includes local thief Slide (Eddie Murphy). Stiller plays the straight-man and his band of misfits provide comic relief. There is also help from Josh’s brother-in-law/concierge worker Charlie (Casey Affleck), elevator operator Enrique (Michael Pena), Odessa, a Jamaican maid (Gabourey Sidibe), and a recently evicted former stock broker, Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick). With his team assembled, Kovaks hopes to pull off a Robin-Hoodesque heist to steal $20 million Josh believes Shaw has hidden in his high-rise condo. The gang of crooks at least know the ins and outs of the Columbus Circle highrise.
While the plot is rather preposterous and far-fetched, the film’s timeliness is what will draw people to the box office. In an era of growing frustration with Wall Street and the upper 1%, people won’t mind paying $8 to see a Bernie Madoff-like character out-smarted by a regular squad of working class Americans. As a bonus, Eddie Murphy will provide a few laughs in this shallow, yet recession-relevant flick.
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