Caper movies have been popular for better than half a century now, and show no sign of slowing down.  Sooner or later virtually everyone in Hollywood makes one.  Caper movies are (supposed to be) fun, clever spits-in-the-eye to authority groups and rich people; they pit everyday people as underdogs against the rich and powerful people who are hoarding wealth.  Tower Heist follows this formula very closely and benefits due to the righteousness of the wronged.

Billionaire Alan Alda is caught by the Feds before he can escape the country after defrauding everyone he knows; the staff of the fancy tower where he resides are among his victims.  The disgraced tower manager, Ben Stiller, decides to right the wrong and steal Alda’s safety web of cash, because he thinks he knows where it is hidden.  He recruits other tower employees and the con is on.  Other participants in the ruse are Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe and Eddie Murphy.  The Feds are represented by lovely Tea Leoni.

Brett Ratner’s film follows the formula pretty well, from an initial meeting of the reluctant participants to a planning session, all with the emphasis on comedy.  When the heist gets going things slow down a bit and the tone turns more serious, but never convincingly so.  It all wraps up quite cleverly, with a coda that would make King Midas quite pleased.  I like the film, but there are holes, particularly late in the story, that cannot be overlooked.

Without giving anything away, I think I can reveal that the movie makes a couple of late jumps of logic that just aren’t sensible or believable.  These logic jumps detract from the experience; a tighter script and more attention to detail would have ensured a smooth finish.  When I left the theater I was not smiling; I was frowning, trying to reconcile what had happened with what I felt should have happened.  Most of the movie works, but I cannot recommend it whole-heartedly.  ✰ ✰ ½.  2 Dec. 2011.