Ben Stiller wasn't always the wooden plank of the embarrassing "Night At The Museums" movies, or God knows, "Tower Heist" where he seems intent upon morphing into a sulky Jewish Jimmy Stewart. No, really, I own "The Ben Stiller Show" DVD where his impressions -of Bono as a wedding singer for one, were a coming of age for comedy in a new generation.
But he sure is now and the draggy theft flick is like "Ocean's 11" for folks with personality flaws. A Madoff type character get naileds for a Ponzi scheme absconsing with the pensions of the employees at "The Tower" (literally, Trumps one on Columbus Circle). Stiller along with a bunch of B-List movie and an awkward to watch Eddie Murphy set off to steal their pensions back from out of his (Alan Alda's by the by) penthouse.
It all ends up on Thanksgiving with the Macy's Parade getting in the way.
The acting is OK, especially Gabourey Sidibe following up "Precious" with a truly pleasurable performance as a safe cracking maid. But it takes forever to rev up it and there is something so distinctly unsexy for thriller. Really, it doesn't much thrill.
Also? No music really, standard issue background but that's about it. We see Kanye west from afar on a macy's float and the doorman reminds Stiller, he got drunk one and stood on a bar at a Times Square restaurance and sang "Circle Of Life" from the Lion King.
Movie: B
Music: F