Tower Heist (PG-13) Format: DVD and Blu-ray

"Tower Heist" is nothing if not a topical movie comedy. It's easy to root for these working-stiff Robin Hoods, and fun to laugh at their foibles.

Almost fun enough to overlook the ludicrous plot and execution of this inside job. Director Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour") settles for easy laughs based on stereotypes, and there are plenty of both. Screenwriters Ted Griffin ("Rumor Has It") and Jeff Nathanson ("The Terminal") ignore a long list of practical realities, including the weight of gold.

Then again, is anybody really all that concerned with whether a comedy like this is believable? More likely, you're interested to see if Eddie Murphy can still deliver the laughs after a long comedic dry spell.

Ben Stiller stars as Josh Kovacs, manager of a luxury condo high-rise in Manhattan, who lectures his staff on the importance of anticipating their rich, pampered residents' every need.

But when one resident, smug financier Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), is indicted for a Ponzi scheme, the polite smiles vanish. Arthur has looted the condo workers' retirement fund entrusted to him by Josh.

Josh recruits a ragtag bunch to rob Arthur's condo, which Josh is sure contains a hidden safe with $20 million. His gang includes his underachieving brother-in-law, Charlie (Casey Affleck); Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), a nebbish laid-off investment analyst who has lost everything; and a rather clueless but likable new hire at the high-rise, Enrique (Michael Peña), who falsely claims to be an electrical engineer.

Late to the group: neighborhood petty criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy), who is recruited to teach the others about stealing, and Jamaican maid Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"), who is aggressively seeking a green-card husband and who happens to be a first-class safe cracker.

The law is represented by Tea Leoni as a smart-aleck FBI agent who loathes Arthur and likes flirting with Josh, especially when she's had a drink or two.

This is a sort of amateur hour version of "Ocean's Eleven," played more broadly for laughs, and it rolls along pleasantly enough for a slightly long hour and 40 minutes.

Murphy, playing the same fast-talking street crook he did in "Trading Places," is the funniest he's been in a long time, and his chemistry with Stiller works. Sidibe makes a surprisingly smooth transition to comedic character acting. Affleck and Peña are their usual able selves, and Alda is pitch perfect as the elitist without a conscience everybody will love to hate.

"Tower Heist" may not be groundbreaking, or credible, or so funny you can't breathe. But it is entertaining. And its class-war themes fit the zeitgeist of our time to a populist T.

— Bob Fischbach, World-Herald staff writer

"Puss in Boots" (PG) Format: DVD and Blu-ray

Antonio Banderas lends his voice to the sword-fighting cat in this tale about his adventures before meeting Shrek. The tale deals with Jack and Jill and their magic beans, which Humpty Dumpty is trying to steal with the help of his friend Puss.

"J. Edgar" (R) Format: DVD and Blu-ray

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as J. Edgar Hoover, head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years. Hoover was feared, admired, reviled and revered and his methods were at once ruthless and heroic. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Other releases: "Martha Marcy May Marlene" (DVD, Blu-ray), "Weeds: Season Seven" (DVD and Blu-ray), "The Way" (DVD, Blu-ray), "Nurse Jackie: Season Three" (DVD, Blu-ray), "The Mighty Macs," "Fort Apache" (Blu-ray), "London Boulevard" (DVD, Blu-ray), "The Son of No One" (DVD, Blu-ray), "Unforgiven" (Blu-ray)