jesswant
5 mins ago i didn't have a imbd account. I only made one to say this is just ya average Ben stiller film, nothing more, nothing less.
-jess.
gamergcfan
The first 30 minutes or so may be sufficient in turning off some viewers. I was glad I didn't stop watching there. After 30 minutes, the film totally picked up. If picking up was enough, within 45 minutes or so, it became much better AGAIN to the point where it was like watching a whole different movie. The shoplifting scene was really funny. If that was funny enough, then get this: it was unfunny when compared to the absolutely hilarious scene that happened a little later (I will not spoil this great joke, but it involves Ben Stiller's character explaining instructions).The heist was fun, too, with humour mixed in to contribute to the action to make it even better. All I have to say is that the whole movie was a good pick, despite not expecting a lot from it.+ Extremely hilarious scene around halfway+ Many other funny jokesFirst 15-30 minutes not that goodScore: 8. It's a borderline 9, though.
SnoopyStyle
Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) is the dedicated manager of a high class highrise in NYC. Financier penthouse resident Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) is arrested for a Ponzi scheme and he lost the employees' pension fund. Josh feels responsible since he asked Shaw to handle the funds. Doorman Lester tries to commit suicide after giving all of his savings to Shaw. Josh, Charlie (Casey Affleck) and Enrique (Michael Peña) go to confront Shaw. Josh smashes Shaw's Steve McQueen car and general manager Simon (Judd Hirsch) fires all 3 men. FBI Special Agent Claire Denham (Téa Leoni) is in charge of the case and tells him that they still haven't found Shaw's $20 million safety money. With Charlie, Enrique, penniless tenant Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) and thief Slide (Eddie Murphy), Josh intends to steal Shaw's hidden cash. Then they need a safecracker and Josh remembers tower employee Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe).It's a passable caper movie but it doesn't get any laughs until Eddie Murphy arrives. Brett Ratner doesn't have the edge as a director to make this better. Ben Stiller is lukewarm as the leader which is fine since he's the straight man. The rest of the crew doesn't have enough life. The roles of Charlie and Enrique are probably better off in the hands of comedians. Broderick doesn't add enough either. It's a movie that is just good enough but not much more.
AJSteele
I really expected this film to be funny and good. I hung in there thinking some actual laughs would come during the heist portion of the film which took forever to come. Eddie Murphy doing his same old shtick and Ben Stiller as flat as possible left me expressionless. Also, were the film makers freakin kidding me with Matthew Broderick. The guy looked half dead and uttered words that looked like some untalented schleps first audition.Toss in a depressing ultra straight portrayal by Alan Alda to secure the fate of this bomb. The film was trying to be outrageous to the point of distraction on one end while not knowing where else it wanted to go with the serious elements . I cringed at the dialog.A heist comedy with this kind of talent should have sailed. The only standout was Gabourey Sidibe. Her scene with Murphy where she asks if he's married was funny. Why couldn't more of that have been there? So much lost potential.It just didn't work, period. Glad I didn't pay for the rental as I would have done when the film was first released.
AD
