Tower Heist (2011)

All Critics (182) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (57) | DVD (2)

Cheerfully crappy schlock.

November 6, 2011 Full Review | Comments (9)

Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper.com

Top Critic

Made me laugh and held my interest more than it should have, given how sloppy it is. Call it an acceptable bit of B-minus work from a C student.

November 4, 2011 Full Review

Eric D. Snider

Film.com

Top Critic

So what if it's sheer petty escapist enjoyment? Tower Heist delivers the laughs in desperate times.

November 4, 2011 Full Review | Comments (2)

Tom Long

Detroit News

Top Critic

Alan Alda plays the billionaire, and his oleaginous smarm is so good that you almost wish Alda were starring in a hard-edged movie about Madoff instead of this goofy heist picture that takes way too long getting to the heist.

November 4, 2011 Full Review | Comments (2)

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

This is, of course, Hollywood schlock, directed by shlock-master Brett Ratner. But it's also a surprisingly effective social drama.

November 4, 2011 Full Review | Comments (6)

Robert Levin

The Atlantic

Top Critic

Highly recommended if you want to watch an assortment of rich movie stars feel your pain.

November 4, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The one-liners pop and the cast delivers.

December 29, 2012 Full Review

Roger Moore

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

All corners of the oddball comedy genre are squarely covered in a way that somehow seems fresh despite the well tried-and-tested formula.

September 25, 2012 Full Review

Matt Looker

TheShiznit.co.uk

What we end up with is a film that will have you laughing all the way through while at the same time reminding you that some talent never goes away, it just hibernates in smaller or inferior movies for awhile before that right project reaches them.

September 18, 2012 Full Review

Jeff Beck

Examiner.com

Tower Heist is too much fun too dislike. It may not be the smartest or even the funniest film of the year, but it does feature one very entertaining ensemble that makes for a great ride.

September 17, 2012 Full Review

Benjo Colautti

We Got This Covered

Feels more like a droll drama than an actual comedy, and it could have worked on those merits, but the stilted comedic asides rob the film of genuine weight.

August 22, 2012 Full Review

William Bibbiani

CraveOnline

A funny, if farfetched, revenge fantasy for folks bilked by the likes of Bernie Madoff.

February 23, 2012 Full Review

Kam Williams

NewsBlaze

Tower Heist succeeds because of Eddie Murphy's snarky performance, and fun turns from the rest of the cast. But the heist itself is a little dumb and the story is riddled with plot holes.

February 22, 2012 Full Review

R. L. Shaffer

IGN DVD

Occupy this: A feisty and funny heist movie with a nice turn by some guy named Eddie Murphy.

January 9, 2012 Full Review

Bruce Bennett

Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

It's the Occupy Movement ethos via a comedy crime caper.

December 29, 2011 Full Review

Matt Neal

The Standard

The movie is no fun, except when Murphy is around, which isn't nearly enough.

December 28, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Greg Maki

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Tower Heist is an entertaining crime comedy that features solid popcorn filmmaking from Brett Ratner and a big time cast having fun.

December 26, 2011 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

One can't help but feel there must have been a little more meat on the bones of the script at some point.

December 21, 2011 Full Review

Simon Foster

sbs.com.au

A thoroughly entertaining heist movie with enough ballast to make it real, and also enough comedy to make it a great entertainment

December 17, 2011 Full Review

Andrew L. Urban

Urban Cinefile

Brilliantly executed with hilarious ideas and a first-class cast, Tower Heist is a sparkling and original caper

December 17, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Louise Keller

Urban Cinefile

A casual heist movie that's played for laughs, not smarts.

December 16, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Anders Wotzke

Moviedex

A just-for-fun, feel-good people's picture -- and and one that never gets on its high horse and preaches to get there.

December 9, 2011 Full Review

Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

The presence of an almost sleepwalking Eddie Murphy as a motor mouth criminal simply adds to the sense of resources neglected.

December 8, 2011 Full Review

Andrew Simpson

Fan The Fire

The heist of the film's title is thus premised on a desire for revenge that seems timely, but is more formulaic.

December 7, 2011 Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters

• 1. Josh Kovacs: Checkmate.
  – Submitted by David E (5 months ago)
• 1. Charlie: It's the FBI lady, and two cops.
  2. Enrique Dev'Reaux: Shit, we haven't done anything yet!
  – Submitted by Directors C (9 months ago)
• 1. Slide: What you trying to steal?
  2. Josh Kovacs: Twenty Million Dollars.
  3. Slide: Let's go grab a bite to eat.
  – Submitted by Connor B (10 months ago)
• 1. Josh Kovacs: You think Steve McQueen is the coolest cat that ever lived? Well guess what, today Steve McQueen is my little bitch!
  – Submitted by Noah L (14 months ago)
• 1. Josh Kovacs: Slide, we gotta use the truck. Where are the keys?
  2. Slide: Under the sun visor.
  3. Mr. Fitzhugh: You leave the keys? In New York?
  4. Slide: It's a stolen car!
  5. Mr. Fitzhugh: You brought a stolen car? To a robbery?
  – Submitted by Noah L (14 months ago)
• 1. Mr. Fitzhugh: Were plotters. We plotted. That's a crime right?
  – Submitted by Austin G (16 months ago)