By Darlene Donloe
Chris Rock has
thrown down the gauntlet.
In the past it
seemed Rock couldn’t buy a good movie. Critics were tough and his movies were
usually panned. That was then, this is now.
This time around,
critics can’t say enough good things about his latest film, Top Five, out Dec. 12. The comedy has
Rock’s naysayers and haters doing a 180.
This is, by far,
Rock’s best work!
Top Five is written, directed and stars Rock, who
plays Andre Allen, a New York-based comedian who wants to be taken seriously as
a film star. Most of Allen’s popularity came from his successful film as
the star of the Hammy the Bear
crime-fighting franchise. After three Hammy
films, however, Andre has grown tired of the persona and wants to spread his
wings.
We meet Allen
the day when his slave revolt film called Uprize,
which is supposed to showcase his serious acting skills, hits theaters. It’s
also the day he is being interviewed by Chelsea Brown, a New York Times reporter
played by Rosario Dawson, who is getting up close and personal by spending the
day with him. She hits Allen with in-your-face type questions that he’s reluctant to answer because he’s been burned
by a New York Times reporter in the past. Their encounter forces Allen to look at
his life, confront his demons and own his faults and frailties. An alcoholic,
Allen is working his way back to himself and the process isn’t pretty. All of
this is taking place just days before he is to wed a popular reality-show star
played by Gabrielle Union.
What makes the
film exceptional is the feeling of authenticity. It rings true and doesn’t feel
like a cookie-cutter comedy. It’s an original. It not only shows the pros of
being a celebrity, it shows the cons. It shows the shallowness and the
ridiculousness that accompanies celebrity.
There are some
hilarious performances in this film. Hilarious! Leslie Jones kills!
DMX nearly steals the movie. Cedric the Entertainer steals every scene
he’s in. He’s flamboyant, fiery and brilliant as the man who can get Allen anything
he needs.
(l-r) Rosario Dawson and Chris Rock in Top Five
But it’s Rosario
Dawson and Chris Rock’s chemistry that kicks the movie up a notch. Rock delivers a comedic, yet poignant
performance as a man whose vulnerability is showing. Dawson, too, gives a noteworthy performance.
The film, a
satisfactory transition from stand-up to the big screen, is a bit raunchy, kind
of chaotic, but brilliantly funny!
Top Five is written and directed by Chris Rock, who also stars alongside
Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove,
Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay
Pharoah. Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, DMX and Jerry Seinfeld make
cameos.
The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. Shawn “Jay Z”
Carter and Kanye West are co-producers. Questlove is the executive music
producer.
Top Five opens in theaters nationwide on Fri., December 12. The film is Rated R (for strong
sexual content, nudity, crude humor, language throughout and some drug
use). Running time: 1 hr., 41 min.
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs
work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Top Five get an O (oh, yeah).
#TopFiveMovie,
#ChrisRock
TOP FIVE Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jejCmmawzLY&feature=youtu.be
Follow the official
social channels:
http://Facebook.com/TopFiveMovie
http://Twitter.com/TopFiveMovie
http://Instagram.com/TopFiveMovie
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