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The Tower in New York is the most regal of apartment/condo’s in downtown, and staffing The Tower is one of the hardest working group of staff members. When The Tower’s top tenant, Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) is arrested for securities and investment fraud the staff becomes concerned for their own investments and pension plan. Swindled, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller), Charlie (Casey Affleck), and Enrique (Michael Pena) enlist the help of tenant Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) and local criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy) to pull of the heist of the century — robbing their own money back from Arthur Shaw. Of course this is no simple task, especially with the FBI’s Agent Denham (Tea Leoni) on guard. Still, the game is afoot, but can they pull off the heist without getting pinched? A feel good and fun romp delivers a few heartfelt laughs. More importantly, the film doesn’t overstay its welcome with a reasonable runtime, and, the actors compliment each other nicely working as an ensemble. And, despite the potential to really go sour, I’m pleased to report, it’s actually entertaining. The film isn’t complex, it isn’t a CGI fury of robots and monsters, there aren’t really any big explosions, it’s just fun. Odd enough, the film feels like a December release a month early, how about that? Matinee or more. Tower Heist is rated PG-13.

Ben Geary (Topher Grace) is a young FBI agent tasked with locating and putting an end to a mysterious soviet assassin known as Cassius, thought to be operating in the U.S.. To that end, former CIA operative Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is called in to assist in the search with invaluable knowledge and skills to his credit. As the plot twists and turns the efforts to out Cassius means a challenge to the relationship between Ben and Paul. But who is really hunting who and why? With a minor spin to the typical crime scene investigative drama, old cop, new cop The Double makes attempts to twist and turn, obscuring the truth whilst revealing the same mysteries in the same breath. What does that mean? It tries to be cryptic but then ends up telling you everything you need to know, leaving a mildly interesting plot to drive the rest of the film — and that’s a problem, it’s only mildly interesting. All the parts of a decent film are here, I just wish the order of things and the method of how key turning points are revealed was done to leave more mystery. I guess I’m asking for more of a whodunit instead of a spoon feeder. A rental. The Double is rated PG-13.

Estranged pals Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are reunited by chance and tasked with the mission of finding the perfect Christmas tree for Harold’s father in law (Danny Trejo). Before long the two are shot at, wanted by the mob, drugged, and forced to dance in a Neil Patrick Harris Christmas spectacular. But more important than all of that, what of their friendship, and who’s having a baby? Pot Jokes, check, Cocaine jokes, Check, Bathroom humor, Check, Obligatory but Gratuitous sexual humor, check, Wafflebot, check. What did you expect? It’s Harold and Kumar, it’s not a good movie, but it’s good enough. I will say this, this may actually be the first 3D film this year to actually make use of the 3D technology and make it worth while. Otherwise, do I really need to be writing this? You know the drill. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is rated R.