TOWER HEIST

If you were after this year’s light-hearted crime caper offering, you’ve come to the right place. Luxury apartment complex manager Josh Kovaks (Ben Stiller) leads a bunch of misfits in avenging a dodgy Wall St high-flier (Alan Alda). Mild hilarity, suspense and sentimentality ensues. For this reviewer and avowed Eddie Murphy fan, Tower Heist marks the return of the man who gave us Axel Foley and Reggie Hammond to what he once did best – being a smart ass in a quasi-criminal environment. For old times’ sake, Murphy is the standout though he is but one of a swathe of names that also includes Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni and Gabourey Sidibe of Precious fame who together carry this picture. While the plot has enough holes to rival a fine piece of Swiss cheese, it is rollicking good fun with a few good one-liners that tries to touch upon the financial muck the US finds itself in at the moment. (MG) ***