REVIEW: TOP FIVE
As weird as this sounds, Chris Rock has never really been in a classic comedy. He had a great show in "Everybody Hates Chris," of course his legendary stand-up routines, and, most recently, he's been the voice of Marty the Zebra in Madagascar. On his IMDb page, he's most known for, in this order, a stand-up special, the first Madagascar, Head of State (you know, where he...what is that movie even about?) and now this film. Let's hope more people catch on to Top Five, because as the director of his third film, he puts in a great comedic effort, becoming an effective triple threat of a writer, director and actor.
Some critics are saying this Rock channeling Woody Allen, as it's a self-reflective piece in New York with a big ensemble and a love story. If so, keep doing what you're doing, Chris. The comedian plays Andre Allen, known for playing Hammy the Bear in a series of movies that smelled suspiciously like a Marty dig. Yes his three outings as the bear brought the money in, but, like Michael Keaton's Riggan, he's tired of making loud, blockbuster studio films and being recognized for a single role. So he makes a movie concerning a Haitian slave rebellion, and goes on a series of interviews to plug it. Accompanying him is reporter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), who wants to get the true story on Rock, and track his attempt at a comeback as being a serious actor.
Pretty meta, isn't it? Rock seems to be in full control here, and it shows, with a self-referential and self-effacing film that was produced and financed independently, the surest way to have what you envision on the screen. With a mere $12 million budget, Rock has assembled some of the finest black comedic talent working now, with current SNL stars (On one spectrum, Leslie Jones slays as Lisa, on the other, Jay Pharoah doesn't get nearly enough screen time as Mike) and old SNL stars, including Tracy Morgan. Who wouldn't want to work for Chris Rock after all, and with a script this solid there's a lot of laughs that land among the many talented faces. But Rock doesn't really go for hilarious here. There's great conversation and banter with Dawson; it especially shines when he goes back to his old friend's and family's apartment, where some great jokes are cracked with Jones, Morgan and Sherri Shepard. Those are the moments when Top Five feels the most real and genuine, when Andre is away from all of the show business. There are some moments I wish Rock had explored deeper, like when a man who jokingly calls him Hollywood harasses him and then asks him for some money. He's never referred to again.
But mostly the film is an occasionally spot-on satire of celebrity culture, with Rock taking vicious aim at reality show "stars." Among the cast Gabrielle Union shines as Allen's fiancee; her character's development surprised me. When he's got dialogue reminiscent of his stand-up, Rock owns the movie like Eddie Murphy in his prime (something Andre Allen jokes about), "I saw Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson in the same two months and Eddie was better." It's quips like that that keep Top Five moving, even when it drags a bit. Rock's shown a lot of promise, showing off his directing/writing skills and especially as an actor, this is by leagues his best performance.
Rating: 2.5/4 stars
Some critics are saying this Rock channeling Woody Allen, as it's a self-reflective piece in New York with a big ensemble and a love story. If so, keep doing what you're doing, Chris. The comedian plays Andre Allen, known for playing Hammy the Bear in a series of movies that smelled suspiciously like a Marty dig. Yes his three outings as the bear brought the money in, but, like Michael Keaton's Riggan, he's tired of making loud, blockbuster studio films and being recognized for a single role. So he makes a movie concerning a Haitian slave rebellion, and goes on a series of interviews to plug it. Accompanying him is reporter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), who wants to get the true story on Rock, and track his attempt at a comeback as being a serious actor.
Pretty meta, isn't it? Rock seems to be in full control here, and it shows, with a self-referential and self-effacing film that was produced and financed independently, the surest way to have what you envision on the screen. With a mere $12 million budget, Rock has assembled some of the finest black comedic talent working now, with current SNL stars (On one spectrum, Leslie Jones slays as Lisa, on the other, Jay Pharoah doesn't get nearly enough screen time as Mike) and old SNL stars, including Tracy Morgan. Who wouldn't want to work for Chris Rock after all, and with a script this solid there's a lot of laughs that land among the many talented faces. But Rock doesn't really go for hilarious here. There's great conversation and banter with Dawson; it especially shines when he goes back to his old friend's and family's apartment, where some great jokes are cracked with Jones, Morgan and Sherri Shepard. Those are the moments when Top Five feels the most real and genuine, when Andre is away from all of the show business. There are some moments I wish Rock had explored deeper, like when a man who jokingly calls him Hollywood harasses him and then asks him for some money. He's never referred to again.But mostly the film is an occasionally spot-on satire of celebrity culture, with Rock taking vicious aim at reality show "stars." Among the cast Gabrielle Union shines as Allen's fiancee; her character's development surprised me. When he's got dialogue reminiscent of his stand-up, Rock owns the movie like Eddie Murphy in his prime (something Andre Allen jokes about), "I saw Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson in the same two months and Eddie was better." It's quips like that that keep Top Five moving, even when it drags a bit. Rock's shown a lot of promise, showing off his directing/writing skills and especially as an actor, this is by leagues his best performance.
Rating: 2.5/4 stars
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