Josh Kovaks is the manager of a high-rise condominium in New York. He is close to all the tenants, especially financier Arthur Shaw. One day Shaw is arrested by the FBI for fraud. Josh thinks it's a misunderstanding that can be resolved, but later he learns that the employees' pension fund - which he asked Shaw to handle - is gone. When one of the employees tries to kill himself, Josh's views of Shaw change. He goes to see him and loses his temper, and his job. The FBI agent in charge tells him that Shaw might walk, and recovering the pension fund is unlikely. She tells him that it's been rumored that Shaw has $20 million lying around if he needs it in a hurry. Josh thinks he knows where it is, so with two other fired employees and an evicted tenant, they set out to get into Shaw's penthouse to get the money. But they realize they need the assistance of someone who knows how to steal, so Josh asks an old acquaintance named Slide who he knows is a thief to help them. Written by

Plot Synopsis:
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Josh Kovacs is the building manager of The Tower, a high-rise luxury apartment complex on Central Park West in New York City whose employees include concierge Charlie, his brother in law; Enrique, an elevator operator; Lester, the doorman nearing retirement; Odessa, a maid; and Miss Iovenko, who furtively studies for her bar exam at work.

One morning Josh sees what appears to be a kidnapping of Tower tenant and wealthy businessman Arthur Shaw. Josh gives chase and almost catches him when he is clotheslined by FBI agent Claire Denham. Denham explains that Shaw wasn't being kidnapped, he was attempting to flee arrest, accused of running a Ponzi scheme. Josh tells the Tower staff about Shaw's arrest and explains that he gave Shaw their pension fund to invest, and their money is gone. Josh, Charlie and Enrique visit Shaw, under house arrest in his penthouse apartment. Josh tells Shaw that Lester attempted suicide after losing everything he had. Shaw expresses condolences but appears insincere. Josh responds by destroying the windows of a Ferrari 250 Shaw has on display in his apartment. The building's owner is furious at Josh's action and fires Josh, Charlie and Enrique.

Josh meets Denham at a bar and she invites him to get drunk. As they drink she says Shaw must have had a cash safety net and suggests in jest that he find and steal it. Josh gathers Charlie, Enrique, and former Tower tenant Mr. Fitzhugh to draw up a plan to steal Shaw's money. Charlie brings up the obvious drawback that they are not thieves. Josh hires his neighbor, a petty criminal named Slide, to help. Slide trains the team but realizes he cannot do the robbery because he doesn't know how to crack the safe in Shaw's apartment. They bring in Odessa, whose family ran a locksmith business. Charlie tells Josh he's been rehired as the Tower's new manager, and Charlie warns Josh to stay away or he will have him arrested. Denham then tells Josh that a hearing for Shaw has been scheduled for Thanksgiving during the Macy's Day Parade to avoid publicity, and Shaw will go free. Josh and his team decide to break into Shaw's apartment during the parade.

The team reaches Shaw's apartment, breaks down a false wall and finds Shaw's safe behind it; Odessa opens the safe but finds it empty. Slide and Fitzhugh struggle for Slide's gun; the gun goes off and a bullet hits the car, revealing gold underneath the Ferrari's paint. They realize Shaw invested his cash in gold, had the gold melted down and cast into car parts, and then assembled the car in his apartment where the gold would be hidden in plain sight. Josh finds a ledger of Shaw's illegal finances in the car's glove box. They lower the car out the window into Fitzhugh's old apartment six floors below, and then take it down to the lobby on top of an elevator. Just as they reach the lobby Agent Denham and Shaw return and take the same elevator back up. Denham sees Shaw's safe and informs him that he did not declare the safe on an inventory of items taken when he was arrested, which is a violation of the conditions of his bail. She has him remanded back into custody.

Denham sees Lester using a stolen truck to try to escape from the building. She catches up to him, assuming he is fleeing with the Ferrari, but finds the truck empty. The FBI arrests him and Josh's other accomplices. She personally handcuffs Josh and privately congratulates him. As Josh is being questioned by the FBI, Miss Iovenko arrives, telling the FBI that she passed her bar exam three days ago and is acting as Josh's attorney. She shows them Shaw's ledger and tells them she will turn it over in exchange for everyone's freedom. The FBI accepts on the condition that Josh, being the primary conspirator, must serve a minimal two-year sentence.

The team retrieves the car from its hiding place in Shaw's rooftop pool and send various parts of the car to Tower employees to compensate for their lost pensions. As the movie ends Shaw begins his life sentence and Josh is booked into jail, a satisfied smile slowly forming on his face.

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Shelly_T from Hong Kong
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I didn't expect too much from this movie after watching the trailer. Judging from the cast and the trailer I thought that it would be at the very least a little entertaining or just an okay movie. It is actually very entertaining and the performances from the entire cast are solid. I laughed a lot and more than I expected. It also has quite a few twists and turns which I wasn't expecting and which should keep you interested. The chemistry between Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy is very good too and they both provide a couple of very memorable scenes. If you are looking for something to pass the time this movie would be a very good choice.

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ntennan from United States
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I was able to see one of the first screenings of Tower Heist last night. I went in just happy to see a free movie two weeks before its release, but at the same time I was not expecting this movie to be that funny. With that said, it was a lot better than I expected.

Eddie Murphy's character was an over-the-top funny type of guy and Ben Stiller had his moments of over-the-top humor too. The plot itself is obviously not that believable, but let's be honest, if you go into this movie expecting an "Italian Job-like" heist plot then you might as well not even go.

The supporting roles in this movie were really good and the film is filled with great one liners. There were a couple of lines that didn't really turn out as funny as the writer probably thought, but all that said it is worth the watch.

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Vikas SS from Mumbai, India
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Heist movies have hit the screens with regularity in every language and generation. You know how it all ends: the smart thieves get their booty despite all odds and twists. But, very few are actually smart and slick enough like an 'Italian Job' or an 'Oceans Eleven'. On a comparative rating, 'Tower Heist' doesn't even get close.

'The Tower' is a luxury high rise apartment (actually filmed at Trump International Hotel and Tower in Manhattan) where the hard working staff led by Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) make sure that its high profile tenants are pampered.

In the backdrop of difficult markets and people losing jobs including one of the Tower's tenants and Wall Street trader Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), FBI arrests the wealthiest tenant Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda).

Just then, Josh realizes that his pension along with that of his staff have been wiped out in Shaw's Ponzi scheme. To make matters worse, Josh and two others are fired for their outburst at Shaw. When the drunken FBI agent (Tea Leoni) reveals that Shaw could be having cash hoard in his penthouse, Josh resolves to steal it.

For all practical purposes, a film starring Ben Stiller cannot be an action flick. Thus, comedy is written into it. And Josh's conspirators aren't professional thieves, but a concierge, Charlie (Casey Affleck), an elevator operator, Enrique (Michael Pena), Fitzhugh and Odessa a cleaner (Gabourey Sidibe). So, they hire Slide, a small-time thief (Eddie Murphy) to teach them to do the job and Murphy adds a few laughs.

How the bunch of simple folk handle the heist forms the rest of the story. Contrary to other Heist flicks playing on the difficulty of the job or employ 'Mission Impossible' style technology or stylish actors, 'Tower Heist' tries to differentiate itself as a comedy where amateur thieves bungling up on something or the other. But, comedy is forced and feels as if someone is holding an 'Applause' or 'Laugh' board for the audience.

Going by the star power that 'Tower Heist' had, one would at least expect a decent comedy. But alas, such is not the case and you don't see concrete stuff till it gets to the end, which, in contrast to the rest of the movie is smartly written. Well, you won't mind watching it on Cable TV; but coughing up bucks for a movie ticket is a no-no.

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djensen1 from northern Indiana
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Not as dull as its title suggests, but still somewhat flat caper flick. It has a consistent string of laughs, but never quite hits the heights. Brockerick's down-and-out businessman is a good start but lands few jokes, and the plotting seems to meander. Stiller is a highlight, and Affleck and Murphy are good solid, but Aldo is a standout.

With that much star power, you'd think the comedy would make itself, but the actors feel confined. Weirdly, I think the movie could have been better if it had foregone the heist and explored the Stiller character and his buttoned-down-but-flexible managerial style. More tower. Less heist.

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Wizard-8 from Victoria, BC
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"Tower Heist" is a movie that's never going to win awards. But if it's playing on your television during a rainy day, you will find it is an acceptable way to pass the time. And you'll find the movie has some positive features. Alan Alda makes for a good slimy villain, and Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, and Matthew Broderick (as well as their co-stars) make a likable bunch of people with a goal that you hope they will be able to reach. The actual heist has some unexpected twists as well as some genuine suspense. Certainly, the movie is not perfect. There are some parts of the movie when the movie seems to be missing footage, especially at the end where not all the plot points are resolved (though the two alternate endings on the DVD have this missing material that was for some reason removed from the theatrical print.) While I wouldn't say this is a movie to seek out, if you stumble upon the opportunity to see it, it will probably give you an acceptable amount of entertainment.

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jdemo2008
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I hadn't seen a good Eddie Murphy movie in some time and when I saw the trailer I thought it was going to be a very predictable story line. But on the contrary...it was fresh and very entertaining! The beginning kept me guessing how the plot was going to set up. Then, when it all came together, their plan started to unravel...It was nice to see Matthew Broderick acting again and in full quirk mode...He played a great nerd! Alan Alda was a joy to hate as the bad guy and Ben Stiller was his usual perfect lead man! The casting was perfect and the music kept the excitement going until the end! If you are looking for a fun, "feel good" movie with good acting, then this is a must see! Long live Robin Hood!!!

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pvmpro from United States
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Great Cast , and direction. Eddie Murphy shined in this movie even though his frame-time was less when compared to Ben Stiller. Still I would've thought you could've made the plot even more

interesting by adding a car chase/action sequence which could've put the cherry on the top. Since the movie was shot in New York , one could've added cameos by the icons of New York like Donald Trump , Diddy , Jay z etc .One other thing that is lacking is the spontaneity in the Movie , This movie could learn somethings from movies like Ocean's Eleven Franchise where the pace is never dropped . I would say the lack of pace was easily masked by the dialog delivery of Stiller and Murphy. On the whole , your money is well spent nevertheless.

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julian-mumford from New Zealand
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Josh Kovaks (Ben Stiller) is the perfect employee. Managing a high end apartment skyscraper in New York, his team look after and cater for all the foibles of their rich charges.

Living in the penthouse suite with a rooftop swimming pool emblazoned with a Dollar Bill mosaic is Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), a wealthy financier with Steve McQueen's Ferrari in his living room.

How did it get up there, they took it apart and moved it piece by piece, subtle this is not.

Josh plays online chess with Arthur, likes him and entrusts the employees pension fund to him to "double their money", unbeknown to his work colleagues.

With a story ripped from recent headlines, Shaw is soon in trouble with the FBI, notably pretty detective (Tea Leoni). Subsequently, the employees are left searching for their lost pension funds turning the movie into a "let's get even" escapade.

Josh is largely loyal but when rattled he can and does takes matters into his own hands, vintage car aficionados should look away.

Following subsequent events, we are left with a larcenous but incompetent gang of six. Likable and nominally in charge Josh, Charlie (Casey Affleck) who is not much good at anything but has a pregnant wife and extreme motivation. New boy Enrique (Michael Pena) who is not the brightest bulb, Slick (Eddie Murphy) supposed criminal mastermind but none of the above. Odessa, a chambermaid with a bizarre Jamaican accent and a handy sideline in safe-cracking (Gabourey Siibe) and lastly, Mr Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), depressed, straitlaced, crumpled ex-banker and ex-apartment owner.

We are all set for a decent farce with elements of drama, however the movie is set for fun and mostly delivers.

This a rare Hollywood comedy that is actually funny. Whether the group are planning their heist using Lego, getting distracted with Female Sexuality issues or breaking off mid heist to walk a residents pet dog.

Overall of course it's all very silly and preposterous but it is good to see Eddie Murphy funny again, his sequence with Odessa, as she teaches him the in's and out's of safe-cracking is well done. Stiller largely plays the straight-man, allowing the others to bounce their comedic lines off him. Matthew Broderick is perhaps the standout, managing to make Mr Fitzhugh both sad and funny at the same time, Broderick's comedic timing used to great effect.

It is good to see Judd Hirsch on the big screen, getting a few good scenes as the overall building boss. Alan Alda also lifts the film with his considerable talents bought to bear on the smarmy Mr Shaw.

Like any comedy caper, the tone needs to be right and the project is very much a light soufflé but Director Brett Ratner manages to pull off the various elements, to make this a fun night in.

Summary

That rare event, a Hollywood comedy that manages to both entertain and provide a light sprinkling of social commentary.

The film is largely designed to be a crowd pleaser and largely fulfils that role admirably http://julesmoviereviews.blogspot.co.nz/

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jamiemarks-1 from United Kingdom
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Well I had my seat in the cinema. All I would have needed was my pillow and quilt cover and I could have had a nice nap for an hour and three quarters. Such as was how unbearably boring and awful this movie was I wish I had bought them with me. Tower Heist is one of those "all the best bits are in the trailer" films, which is what propelled me and my father to go and see it.

One other attraction with Tower Heist is it's confluence of top stars such as Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck and Tea Leoni. But a star studded A-list cast doesn't necessarily mean a fantastic film as I found out to my disappointment. This film tries to be like Ocean's Eleven (as others have already reiterated). Funny, clever and slick. Tower Heist falls desperately short on all these fronts. It's not funny (where's the comedy!?) dumb and boring. There's nothing wrong with the story. Rich millionaire embezzles his employees money that they invested in him for their pension, so they decide to get their own back by stealing the money he owes them. The thing is it just isn't involving or fun in any shape or form. Stiller at least gives a decent enough performance along with Affleck and Leoni, but with such a poorly convoluted script that is thinner than the edge of a piece of paper, there's little they can do. The film starts off far too slow in getting to the core of the story (which at this point I was prepared to ignore because I thought it was a build up to an entertaining and clever heist), but instead found myself just constantly looking at my watch. The narrative was straightforward, predictable and plodding. Nothing remarkable happens during the heist, though I did admire how they got the gold bullion car out of the hotel (even though it is impossible, you couldn't do that in real life). I did also chuckle at a few moments I will admit, hence my two star rating, not one. But I was unamused for the most part.

One of the other biggest grievances I had for this is putting Eddie Murphy in this film, who still plays the same boring, repetitive, loud mouth role he has for the last twenty years. The last thing I found him funny in was Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps, which was about ten years ago. Since then and in Tower Heist, he is not funny and is loud, but just annoying and tries desperately too hard and has the propensity to horrifically over-act. It's about time he retired from acting I think. Realising when I read the name Brett Ratner as director who also did X Men: The Last Stand (which was awful) I shouldn't be surprised this was rubbish. Trust me Ocean's Eleven this film isn't. I wouldn't even class this as an "action-comedy" as it had little of either. A wasted opportunity that was bungled due to a predictable and unimaginative narrative and poor script that lacked anything resembling a laugh. This is one caper film whose characters I didn't find funny or care about. Skip this and just re-watch Ocean's Eleven instead, it's ten times better.

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Colin George from United States
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Everyone's excited for the new Brett Ratner movie, right? Jonesing for another marginal action-comedy in the vein of Rush Hour 2? You're in luck! Tower Heist fits the bill, and despite its allusions to 2011 Wall Street turmoil, the familiar flick feels very much of that era. The Rat-man's latest is cookie-cutter entertainment at its most transient, but everyone likes cookies. Right?

In Tower Heist, Ben Stiller plays subservient chief of staff at a ritzy Central Park apartment complex — but when a tenant (Alan Alda) swindles him and his workforce out of their pensions, it's no more Mr. Nice Josh. He masterminds a robbery with the help of his concierge (Casey Affleck), an elevator operator (Michael Peña), a downtrodden former resident (Matthew Broderick), and a Jamaican cleaning woman (Gabourey Sidibe). Unschooled as they are in the art of the steal, Josh also employs the aid of petty criminal "Slide," (Eddie Murphy) who gives the crew a crash course in crime.

The cast of Tower Heist, anchored by Stiller, Alda, and the under-appreciated 'other' Affleck, is its greatest asset. Gabourey Sidibe pulls a Melissa McCarthy in a similar big girl supporting role, and as for Eddie Murphy — it's good to know that there's still a funny guy beneath the Norbit prosthetics. Granted, nobody's working with AAA material here, but their comic chemistry makes for some laugh out loud moments.

Conceived and written by Ted Griffin of Ocean's Eleven and Matchstick Men, Tower Heist strictly adheres to caper convention. Assemble the team, unfurl the plan, set said plan into motion, and wait for it all to come undone. It's a tried and true formula, which is ironic considering the risk its characters incur. There's even a heavy-handed chess metaphor about sacrificing one's Queen, but Griffin is a decidedly defensive player.

Then there's the Rat-factor. Poor Brett's an easy guy to hate. Called "Hollywood's Ad Impresario" by Businessweek, he's the dude who wants to make a Guitar Hero movie. He's a purely commercial filmmaker who's helmed competent but inferior follow-ups to beloved franchises like X-Men and Silence of the Lambs. And let's face it, he's kind of ugly. With Tower Heist, the director isn't flexing any artistic muscles, but he's got the mechanics down pat.

Plus, he's got the good sense to hire performers who probably don't need much direction. Guys like Stiller, Murphy, and Broderick are so well practiced that they're entertaining even when they're resting on their laurels. Similarly, Ratner's worked with cinematographer Dante Spinotti enough times to not have to concern himself with the visual aspects of filmmaking. Though the credits suggest otherwise, Ratner's role is nearer to producer than director.

Consequently, Tower Heist feels impersonal and even a bit disingenuous. After all, what could Brett Ratner, the privileged son of a Miami socialite turned blockbuster director, have in common with the working stiffs he portrays? It's easy to hate Ratner, but unfair to channel that negative energy at his work. With a good cast and decent material, Tower Heist is an amusing, inconsequential diversion that entertains and evaporates in the span of 100 minutes. And with a family friendly PG-13 rating, this cookie-cutter action-comedy is poised to make loads of dough.

Casey Affleck was keen to take part in Tower Heist (2011) as he really wanted to do a comedy and was very rarely being approached to do anything other than serious drama.
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The signing on of Ben Stiller as the lead was instrumental in coaxing Eddie Murphy back to the project.
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Final film of Heavy D.
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The original idea for the movie came from Eddie Murphy who first pitched it to both director and producer Brett Ratner and Brian Grazer years before the project was finally launched.
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Ben Stiller was paid $15 million for his part in the film.
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Universal wanted a final extra scene to be shot to show what happened to the characters played by Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy. The latter said he would only do it if he was paid an additional $500,000 so the scene was dropped.
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Eddie Murphy earned $7.5 million for his involvement in the film.
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The only improvised scene is when Odessa instructs Slide how to crack a safe in a very suggestive manner.
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Producers hired a professional safe cracker, eight time world champion Jeff Sitar, to work with the props master to set up the dial lock for the safe cracking scene and coach Gabourey Sidibe on how to use a safe cracker's listening device and work the dial to crack the safe.
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Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock were both considered for starring roles in this film at one point, with the film being developed as an "African American Ocean's Eleven (2001)". Chris Tucker and Dave Chappelle were also in talks for roles at this stage. Murphy was eventually cast for a supporting role after Ben Stiller signed on as the lead.
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The Rossa Corsa Red 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso used in the film is claimed to have been the exact car owned by the "King of Cool: Steve McQueen". Whilst it is true that Steve McQueen did own a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, his car was Chestnut Brown, not the Italian Red used on the movie car.
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Brett Ratner turned down the opportunity to direct Horrible Bosses (2011) in order to make this film.
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The 1912 chess game Shaw (Alan Alda) references while talking to Kovacs (Ben Stiller) is a real game. However, rather than playing it out, Levitsky resigned after Marshall moved his queen, realizing checkmate was inevitable. The "Marshall Swindle" term did not derive solely from that game, as it was a well known tactic of Frank Marshall's to often play a game in a lazy or relaxed style that ceded his opponent the advantage. Just when he appeared to be in a totally lost position, he would summon up a marvelous tactical flight of fancy to smash his unaware opponent. Some of his defeated and frustrated opponents, believing that they had a moral right to the victory after having established decisive advantage, felt that Marshall had cheated them out of their just desserts often complained that they had been "swindled". A well known "Marshall Swindle" occurred in a game between Marshall and Georg Marco in 1904.
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To perfect her Jamaican accent, Gabourey Sidibe used the services of three vocal coaches.
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Donald Trump International Hotel and Tower in Manhattan was the stand-in for the "The Tower" in the film.
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Some theater chains refused to book the film when Universal revealed that they planned to put the film out on Video on Demand three weeks after the theatrical release. Their concern about how this move would harm ticket sales prompted Universal to back down on this idea.
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Actor Greg Grunberg, who has a son suffering from epilepsy, demanded an apology from Brett Ratner after hearing a joke about seizures from the trailer. Ratner later apologized.
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Fake snow was used when Slide teaches lock-picking at the rooftop. Filming took place in the summer.
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Noah Baumbach did re-writes specifically for the character Josh Kovaks, to suit Ben Stiller.
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According to producer Brian Grazer's account on Piers Morgan Tonight: Episode dated 3 November 2011 (2011), Alan Alda's character Arthur Shaw was inspired by Ponzi mastermind Bernard Madoff.
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Of the stars, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck and Matthew Broderick have all previously directed movies. Indeed, with his cameo appearance at the beginning, Robert Downey Sr. makes that six directors in the cast list.
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There are over 500 visual effects in the film.
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Alan Alda, Ben Stiller and Tè a Leoni had all previously appeared together in David O. Russell's Flirting with Disaster (1996).
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The mall visited is actually in Queens, close to the main character's home of Astoria. The Queens Shopping Center in Elmhurst, Queens contains all of the stores where the shoplifting takes place.
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Jeff Nathanson added in the part of Odessa specifically for Gabourey Sidibe at Brett Ratner's request.
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Shrek is seen in the parade which stared Eddie Murphy.
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The Ferrari Lusso used in many of the scenes is actually a heavily modified Volvo 1800. 2 were fabricated. Corroboration from the builder found on FerrariChat: "Hi, I'm Erich Schultz. I built the two replica Lussos for Tower Heist. I was hired by Ralph Lucci of Automobile Film Club of America, based in New York to do the job. Brett Ratner, the film's director wanted the job done by Ted Moser of Picture Car Warehouse in LA. Ted and I are friends so I told Ralph I would do the job with Ted and act as the project manager. Initially, we were given just seven weeks from getting the job to the final delivery date for two complete cars. I thought that this time frame was unrealistic and I needed ten weeks. We ended up taking eight and a half weeks from start to finish to build them. The decision to build onto a Volvo P1800 platform was mine. I noticed the similarity between the Lusso's windshield, A-pillar, and side windows with the P1800, which incidentally was designed in Italy. I used the P1800 as a platform for the Lusso mold plug. With the exception of the windshield frame, every surface and the overall dimensions of the P1800 were changed with metal work, MDF, urethane foam, fiberglass, and Bondo to transform it into a facsimile of the Lusso. Our replica is not identical in any way. We had to settle for very close. We did not have access to a real Lusso to get measurements or make plans or templates. I had a photo file of pictures that were downloaded from the internet and had to approximate everything by trying to scale dimensions from those photos."
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Stephen Henderson (Lester) is talking to Ben Stiller (Kovaks) about how he got drunk and pretended to be Mufasa from the Lion King. Matthew Broderick (Mr. Fitzhugh) did the voice for adult Simba in the Disney version of The Lion King (1994)
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Robert Redford was offered the role of Arthur Shaw, but turned it down.
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During the building lock-down scene, the security guard is reading the November 2009 issue of Playboy Magazine, for which director Brett Ratner shot a pictorial that featured his then-girlfriend, Alina Puscau.
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The music is similar to the theme in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), almost like a big city homage.
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When Josh (Ben Stiller) bails and picks up Slide (Eddie Murphy) from Riker's Island, Josh starts talking about a car named a Nova. When Murphy starred in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), he drove a "crappy, blue Nova".
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The script was revised by Russell Gewirtz, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Leslie Dixon, and Noah Baumbach.
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This is the second movie Eddie Murphy filmed in Elmhurst (at the Queens Center mall). The first was Coming to America at the McDowells (Wendy's on Queens blvd).
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This is the first entire film that Brett Ratner has made in New York City. Prior to this, he had only shot a few scenes in The Family Man (2000) in the Big Apple.
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Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps and Katt Williams were considered for roles.
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After a screening of the film at L.A.'s Arclight Cinemas, director Brett Ratner said that "rehearsal is for fags" during a Q&A. Due to this controversial statement, Ratner had to resign as a producer of The 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012) in November 2011. Following this, Eddie Murphy, who had signed on as host of the event, also stepped down. Ratner and Murphy were replaced with Brian Grazer and Billy Crystal respectively for the show.
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The school (P.S. 104) that both Josh and Arthur Shaw claim to have attended in Brooklyn is known as a "magnet school for museum studies". Ben Stiller starred in the Night at the Museum (2006) films.
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Rachel Portman wrote an unused score.
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The Ferrari and the Parade that appear in this film is a reference tto Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which also stars Matthew Broderick.
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Kate Upton: the Victoria's Secret model appears as Mr. Hightower's mistress. Her actual photo from one of their ad campaigns is later seen in the Victoria's Secret store window as Josh goes in to steal the underwear.
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apartment|manager|fraud|fbi|heist|penthouse|ponzi scheme|fbi agent|thief|thanksgiving|high rise|die hard scenario|shopping mall|construction site|renovation|homelessness|deception|class differences|security camera|surveillance|security guard|ghetto|snow|chase|car|accountant|prison|lens flare|ledger|maid|stealing a car|reference to sponge bob|locked in a closet|sledgehammer|playboy magazine|subtitled scene|character's point of view camera shot|reference to paul mccartney|reference to robin hood|jamaican|pistol|lego|reference to hilary swank|reference to gregory peck|shoplifting|mall|rikers island new york city|reference to frankenstein|hidden safe|drunkenness|bar|fired from the job|revenge|reference to steve mcqueen|lawyer|house arrest|ensemble cast|car accident|working class|reference to tina turner|eviction|pregnant wife|concierge|character repeating someone else's dialogue|apartment building|character says i love you|doorman|chess|bare chested male|swimming pool|title at the end|swindler|corrupt businessman|parade|suicide attempt|arrest|female agent|elevator shaft|elevator|investor|security|billionaire|businessman|skyscraper|new york city|deceit|empty safe|vault|ferrari|gold|lobby|subway|tower|safecracker|unlikely criminal|career criminal|recruiting|planning|caper comedy|heist movie|two word title|location in title|caper|surprise ending|

AKAs Titles:


Certifications:
Argentina:13 / Canada:PG (Ontario) / Canada:G (Quebec) / Germany:12 / Hong Kong:IIA / India:A / Ireland:12A / Italy:T / Japan:G / Malaysia:PG-13 / Netherlands:12 / Norway:7 / Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) / Portugal:M/12 / Singapore:PG13 / Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) (Blu-ray) / South Korea:12 / Sweden:7 / Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) / Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) / UK:12A / USA:PG-13 (certificate #47138)