03 APRIL 2017 : Interior Design, FTW!

So maybe “Tower Heist” (2011) isn't the first film that comes to mind when you think about Ferraris on screen, but the Ferrari in this movie is not just window dressing or ornamental, but instead a crucial plot point within the film. And it's heavy.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! If you don't want the plot of a 6 year old Ben Stiller movie spoiled for you, stop reading!

If you loved the heist movies of the 1970s (“The Hot Rock” (1972), “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (1974), “The Sting” (1973), you might like “Tower Heist”, which definitely has been inspired by those films with their loose and easy narratives, likable criminals to root for, and evil rich villains that you want to see be taught a lesson by the clever heroes. Of course, “Tower Heist” doesn't come close to those beloved films, in spite of a fantastic cast and a fun conceit. Maybe it's the many plot holes or the very specific moment in time the filmmakers are trying to capture (The Bernie Madoff scandal), but “Tower Heist” just doesn't work. My theory—too soon for a comedy about the betrayal of real working class people by a Wolf of Wall Street. It just doesn't feel right to laugh at the hijinks of a ragtag group of unlikely criminals plotting revenge on a corrupt investor, who is such a tool that he keeps a Red 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso in his living room.

 

A few things about this car …

--even though the Madoff-cahracter (Alan Alda) says this is Steve McQueen's car, McQueen's actual car was Chesnut Brown, not red.

--this car was built on a the frame of a Volvo 1800. The process is detailed in this video clip from the “Tower Heist” DVD bonus material …

--having the Ferrari on display was inspired by Nicolas Cage's display of a car in his living room.  But seriously if you had a 250 GT LWB California Spyder, would you leave it in your living room, or get outside and enjoy the sunshine and symphony of cylinders under the bonnet?

So, getting back to this Ferrari, after our heroes finally get around to exacting their revenge, they discover that this car is actually made of … solid gold! And they steal it and break it down into many parts, sharing the loot. Metaphorically and literally, that is pretty heavy. How many Ferrari owners would say their car is worth it's weight in gold? We here at Ricambi America sure feel that way!