Temporary Gangster

Brett Ratner, director of the successful Rush Hour films, has once again assembled a mismatched team for his latest action comedy. Unlike his three buddy-cop comedies, however, he put less emphasis on the action and greater focus on humor and story in Temporary Gangsters. And that's exactly what makes this somewhat special heist movie a cinematic delight of the particularly entertaining variety.

For over a decade, Josh Kovaks (Ben Stiller), who comes from humble beginnings, has been making sure that the tenants of the most luxurious and secure apartment complex in New York City want for nothing. Not only does he cater to their every need, he also makes sure his team always behaves appropriately towards the Tower's wealthy residents. This is not always easy with employees like the nervous concierge Charlie (Casey Affleck), the robust maid Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe) or the cheeky bellboy Dev`Reaux (Michael Pena). But Josh has everything under control, everything runs perfectly - until it turns out that Wall Street titan Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), who lives in the Tower's breathtaking penthouse, has been placed under house arrest by the FBI after relieving his investors of several million dollars. And since Josh entrusted Shaw, of all people, with his employees' retirement funds, the entire staff is now left with nothing. And it seems Shaw is even getting away with his machinations.

But the freshly fired Josh isn't going to put up with that. With the help of some former employees, bankrupt ex-tenant and Wall Street pro Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) and small-time crook Slide (Eddie Murphy), Josh plans the big score: he knows Shaw has several million stashed in his apartment. And he now wants to steal them. In view of the fact that the apartment is guarded by the FBI and secured with state-of-the-art security systems, not really an easy undertaking - especially since Josh then also falls for the FBI agent Claire (Téa Leoni) of all people.

The temp gangsters do not look like it at first glance, but they make the team of Ocean`s trilogy powerful competition. The planning and execution of the big heist is tremendously entertaining and has a great fun factor. Admittedly, there shouldn`t be much emphasis on realism, because especially in the last third there is a plot element that would be so simply impossible in reality. But this is, after all, primarily about entertainment, and that is definitely provided to the viewer.

What is nice is that Ben Stiller, on the one hand, delivers a more restrained performance than he did in the Nights at the Museum or the Focker films, Eddie Murphy, on the other hand, gets a chance to rev up back towards his old soldier of fortune and Beverly Hills Cop form. Without make up effects or talking animals, Murphy is just still funny as hell today. While he's also somewhat restrained here by the U.S. age rating alone, it's definitely heading in the right direction.

The other actors in the accomplished ensemble are also convincing. Alan Alda makes the perfect villain, Precious star Gabourey Sidibe is simply wonderful as the punchy maid, and Casey Affleck gives a sympathetically edgy performance as the father-to-be. Matthew Broderick is a bit underwhelming as the fallen Wall Street genius, but since his role is set up as a gray mouse, it's actually quite fitting. The interplay between the characters accounts for much of the film's wit and charm, aided by the fact that Ratner takes enough time, especially at the beginning, to establish the characters and let the story unfold.

This does mean that the action takes a little while to pick up speed. The first third runs at a rather leisurely pace with not quite a lot of gag density. But the insight the film offers here behind the scenes of the luxury condominium and the way the characters are built up is very nicely realized and therefore can't be called boring at any second.

The depiction of the rather unusual relationship that develops between Josh and FBI agent Claire, wonderfully played by Téa Leoni, is also well done. Ratner largely avoids sugarcoating, so that even in the moments that might be commonly described as romantic, the film comes across as very funny, but just as warm-hearted. All these successful aspects add up to a surprisingly great cinematic experience. Sure, the script won't win any awards and the actors won't be shortlisted at the Oscars either. But viewers can't really care about that. For those who like American comedies of the not-so-silly kind, want to be entertained by a wonderful ensemble and want to see a really funny story with some successful action elements, will be really well served by Temporary Gangsters. Therefore: great fun and therefore absolutely recommendable!!!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp