TOP FIVE review by Mark Walters – Chris Rock directs & stars in an almost autobiographical comedy

TOP FIVE review by Mark Walters – Chris Rock directs & stars in an almost autobiographical comedy

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Chris Rock’s semi-autobiographical comedy TOP FIVE made a big splash at the Toronto International Film Festival, even creating a bidding war with major Hollywood studios, and being purchased for a record amount of money. The buzz has been through the roof, to the point where Rock himself has expressed nervousness on whether or not this little personal project will impress audiences the way the Paramount Pictures seems to think it will. Make no mistake, this doesn’t look or feel like a small “art house” film, but the end result does live up to a lot of the hype.

Andre Allen (Chris Rock) is a blockbuster Hollywood funnyman, known to most for his trilogy of “Hammy” films – buddy cop movies where he is in a bear suit on the big screen next to Luis Guzmán. He’s about to marry a reality star (played by Gabrielle Union), who cares more about the cameras than her fiance’s feelings. Allen’s latest box office effort is a Haitian slave epic, in which he tries to shed his comedic image by killing as many white oppressors as possible on the big screen. Even the posters for this film-within-a-film are laughable, but that’s exactly the point. His bodyguard (played by J.B. Smoove) keeps watch constantly, and his agent (played by Kevin Hart) reminds him he has to do an important interview with the New York Times. Andre has a rough history with the Times, as one of their critics frequently trashes his films and acting ability. The journalist who shows up (played by Rosario Dawson) tags along with Allen during his day in New York City while the actor does radio appearances, press junkets, and more. Allen even pushes her to ask hard questions, leading the lovely lady to address why he’s “not funny anymore.” They learn a lot about each other, and start to realize things about themselves along the way. Rock has talked before about his love for Woody Allen films, and this pretty much proves he’s not kidding.

TOP FIVE‘s title refers to a repeated query brought up in the movie, where Andre asks friends and family who their top five rappers are, even giving his own choices. It’s an interesting metaphor of sorts for the differences in people, their tastes and reasons why they like what they do. While I’m sure not all of the film is based on Rock’s real life experiences, there’s obviously a lot of him in this story, and the similarities to his own career are undeniable. Solidifying that are moments where his real friends and fellow comedians share the screen as themselves – one sequence in a strip club with three very famous folks is a highlight in the piece. The biggest difference between Chris Rock and Andre Allen is this story’s character appears purposely a little more full of himself as the success has gone to his head and clouded his judgement. Rock’s performance is sincere and honest, though I feel like he could have delved even deeper into the darker sides of his history. There are moments peppered in the film that hint at his past life, like a former flame who regrets not sticking with him, or an all-too-abbreviated scene in which his father (played by Ben Vereen) berates him and then hits him up for money. I wanted more of that stuff and closure on some of it too, but he chose to focus on his walk around scenes with Rosario Dawson… and that’s okay, as all of that stuff is definitely great. Dawson, who is easily one of the most underrated actresses in Hollywood, holds her own and frequently steals the scenes she’s in. Her reading in the film is one of the better female characters of 2014, while not very mysterious she is incredibly likable from the moment we first meet her. In the end, this is a story about these two characters, interacting with several others in brief moments, but most importantly their influence on each other.

Chris Rock found the perfect balance of using familiar faces in just the right amount of scenes, never diluting the important part of the story. People like Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Michael Che, Jay Pharoah, Leslie Jones, Romany Malco, and Sherri Shepherd are used sparingly, but add a nice layer of star power to the proceedings. One of the funniest and most memorable performances comes from Cedric the Entertainer in an extended flashback scene as a sleazy guide that picks Andre up for an appearance. That segment borderlines being overly ridiculous and distracting in the absurdity it reaches, but it’s likely Rock’s way of making sure the audience has a lot of fun as there are more serious and somber moments ahead. I also enjoyed his interpretation of the reality TV star played by Gabrielle Union, which is essentially a commentary of the Kim Khardashian stereotype. There’s a wonderful moment of self-realization with Union’s character, as she reveals her deepest and darkest fear, and it’s this kind of brutal truth that Rock brilliantly includes to make subtle commentaries on show business.

TOP FIVE might feel a little disjointed to some, as the tone of the film never sticks with one theme for too long. It moves from manic to silly, to romantic, to angry, and everything in between, but it’s also a smart and fresh pulling back of the curtain on what it really means to be a celebrity. Everyone thinks being famous would be fun, but seeing the little things that come with that might make you think twice. I hate to call the film a romantic comedy, though in many ways it is, but it’s mostly a terrific character study of the show business machine. It’s like a documentary about Chris Rock’s life, shot like a movie, with an added dramatic storyline… and it’s easily one of the best films of the year. Woody Allen would be proud.

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.