Star Power

Tower Heist was on the other night.  My wife and I watched it and there were a couple of good laughs.  

What was incredible to me was that Matthew Broderick was in it and was not billed as one of the top guys.  Maybe it is just my generation, but to me, Matthew Broderick has major star power.  His part was pretty small, but I found myself more interested in his character than anyone else.  His lines were great.  He played a former Wall Street guy who lost everything including his wife and family.  Somehow, he ends up on the team of thieves which Ben Stiller assembles.

The really weird part was how unfunny Eddie Murphy was.  He's another with star power, but it was like he was just there to collect his paycheck.  He offered nothing to the movie.  It really could have been anyone in that role.

And then there was Ben Stiller and he pretty much played Ben Stiller.  He had his calm demeanor and then he goes ape at one point.  How many times have we seen that happen?

I understand that movies like this do not have strong writers.  It is the buddy heist, feel good movie.  There are a couple twists and turns to make you feign interest.

The real key figure to me was Matthew Broderick.  He is the only one who appeared to take the role seriously and bring something to it.  Perhaps that is because the big roles are starting to not come his way anymore.  So maybe he adds more content to the roles he gets.

When I was a kid, I watched Wargames and Ladyhawke hundreds of times.  Matthew Broderick was so good.  I know that most everyone loves Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  I enjoyed it when I saw it in the theater, but I ended up taking a second look and I have had a tough time since then.  Matthew Broderick is still good in it, but the movie itself is more about how to be the biggest possible a-hole and get away with it.  You watch the movie and think: Who am I rooting for again?

I liked the fact that he would take a small role and still give a solid performance.  I think that says something about the kind of work that actors and directors need to bring to movies.  We, as the audience, know.  We are not fooled by the big names.  So what that you big names are Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller?!  You got my attention for this movie!  What are you bringing to it?!  Oh, nothing?  Maybe I will go find some actors who are willing to bring more to the screen.