Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tower Heist: A Comedy That Clicks

No studio head would say the casting director is the most important person on a movie set. But a surprisingly large number of films fail to reach their potential as a result of miscasting. Fortunately, this is not the case with Tower Heist, the year’s most energetic comedy. Credit must be given to Kathleen Chopin, whose previous casting credits include Affliction, The Manchurian Candidate, and Hitch. Here she’s assembled an enthusiastic, high profile ensemble lead by Ben Stiller and most importantly Eddie Murphy, who delivers his funniest performance since the 1980s.

For pure laughs, Tower Heist matches this summer's Horrible Bosses. It's a genuine crowd-pleaser that demands audience participation, in part due to a timely premise. Alan Alda, oozing smug charm, plays Arthur Shaw, billionaire penthouse resident of a luxury Central Park condominium. At the misguided request of building manager Josh Kovaks (Stiller), Shaw was put in charge of staff pensions, a scary development echoing a certain highly publicized New York City scandal. When Shaw is placed under house arrest for defrauding his investors, Kovaks and other employees begin plotting to steal Shaw's $20 million safety net with the help of Slide (Murphy), a low-level neighborhood thief.

I'm sure some will object to director Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour) hijacking his basic premise from the Madoff Ponzi scheme, which ruined countless lives. A dramatic retelling of real life events could have come across as dishonest and manipulative, but working with a genuinely funny script from writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson, Ratner manages to avoid such criticism. The smartest decision was putting audiences in the position to cheer a team of underdog schemers seeking retribution. The entire revenge robbery, which builds momentum throughout the film's second half, is played for laughs. Meanwhile, a lively cast distracts us from thinking too hard about the implausibility of certain key events down the stretch.

The strength of this cast cannot be overstated. I can imagine several of the films most facetious exchanges floundering, with say, the Happy Madison team in place. Casting Murphy (who Ratner also handpicked to host the 2012 Oscars) was the film's ace in the hole. To call his resume uneven over the past two decades is a generous assessment. Even on occasions when he has proven funny, such as The Nutty Professor and Shrek, they've come courtesy of safer material meant for the broadest possible audience. But here he has wisely abandoned the family-friendly persona that often handicapped his natural charisma. Murphy's performance feels fresh, that of a mature performer rediscovering why audiences embraced him in the first place. His character is street smart, brash, and fast-talking, calling to mind his work on Saturday Night Live and early iconic roles in 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop.

With much of the funniest material relegated to Murphy, Stiller plays it straight and keeps the film grounded, except for one scene when he goes berserk on a priceless automobile. The two stars share an easygoing chemistry, with Stiller’s sincerity meshing well with Murphy’s exuberance. The rest of the large ensemble fills their roles admirably, save Casey Affleck, who apparently was never told this was a comedy. Matthew Broderick, who has perfected his middle-age dweeb act, elicits several laughs, while Tea Leoni surprises with one of the funnier inebriated scenes in a long time. Character actor Michael Pena (Crash) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) both show deft comedic timing, while the invaluable Judd Hirsch makes the most of a throw away part.

Ratner has been an easy target for film snobs over the last decade. The word “hack” has been known to surface when his name is discussed. But for all of his shortcomings, he avoids the much-copied “Apatow syndrome,” which dictates that a comedy must stretch thirty minutes beyond an appropriate end point. Working with top talent, Ratner has delivered a mainstream comedy that is not only well paced and executed, but also a lot of fun. Now if Murphy can just stay away from those G ratings.

(B+)

Movies, Movies, & Movies

At the recommendation of my most valued consiglieres, I am turning the primary focus of future blogs to film reviews, commentaries, tributes, and categorical rankings. Looking for the finest Al Pacino performances? How about the best twenty action films you've never seen? Or the most rewatchable comedies starring Saturday Night Live alumni? You'll find them all right here. It's been correctly suggested that for my blog to catch on, I need to stick to a general focal point and there is no subject I'm better equipped to handle than the movies. I still go any chance I get, pay the incomprehensible $12.00 for popcorn and peanut M&Ms, and enjoy my two hours in the dark. At least AMC Stubs and Regal Rewards provide a little more bang for your buck these days.

Don't worry though. I still plan on covering life changing family moments, historic sporting events, and memorable television shows. I will also continue my annual memorial tribute in December and Oscar predictions in February. So sit back in your recliner, grab a coffee, and absorb the valuable opinions of a man who still has slightly too much on time on his hands.

Welcome Back Mr. & Mrs. Pava!

What a summer! Nearly eight years after first meeting in Casco, Maine, T and I finally tied the knot in New Orleans over Memorial Day Weekend. This means that my blog title, which originally referred to 'my girlfriend,' then 'my fiance,' will have to be changed for a third and presumably final time, to 'my wife.' I spent the majority of my 30th birthday in a terminal at the Akron Canton Airport as our flight was delayed due to extreme winds and sure enough, once we were on the runway a tornado surfaced just yards away! It turned out to a combination of fog and chemicals being sprayed on the plane before takeoff, though it felt real enough. I can say with confidence that if you're going to be stuck in an airport all afternoon, traveling for your wedding is the way to go. A situation that typically would've resulted in hurling my cell phone at the nearest wall was reduced to a minor irritation in an otherwise perfect week. It's a little hard processing that I now have a wife, because it means that I am a husband. This is definitely the most grownup I have ever sounded. I still remember my anticipation walking to apply for marriage certificates in New Orleans. When a person gets excited about filling out paperwork, something great is happening.

Following a phenomenal weekend in "The Big Easy," we unfortunately had to go back to work and school for a few weeks, before the frenetic move back to Newton, MA in late June. Funny how one's perspective changes. When we originally left for Northeast Ohio or what I once considered The Midwest, I was a 27-year-old spring chicken (the only phrase I use specifically to appease my Senior demographic). I am now older, slightly wiser, and walk around every day sporting some serious bling on my finger. Don't worry about my being a left-handed though. I take it off at the appropriate times. :)

I wavered repeatedly over whether to write about our wedding weekend in great detail, ultimately deciding against it. Some things are better left unsaid, as I have private thoughts and feelings about the wedding that are just for me. But I offer my most sincere thanks to everyone who came down to New Orleans to celebrate with us. It was undoubtedly the most amazing weekend of my life, in no small part because I left married to my favorite person in the entire world. I will cherish these memories forever.