What’s Your Top Five?
Chris Rock takes on the big screen this time not only as Actor, but also as Writer and Director of this sleeper comedy. Rock stars as comedian, Andre Allen, a former standup comedian turned film star, who wants to be taken more seriously(sounds familiar). Allen spends the day reflecting on his life, career, new movie, wedding, and catching up with family and friends.
I must admit I’m not the biggest Chris Rock fan. Do I like some of his stuff? Yes. Do I like everything that he’s done? No, but I do love Top Five. Rock pulls off something with this film that not to many comedians are able to do anymore which is tell a funny store as well as put a social twist on it(Richard Pryor is somewhere smiling down on this).
This movie isn’t your typical comedy. Rock does a fine job as writer/director by telling a multi layered story about Andre Allen(Rock) who spends the day in New York City reflecting on his life and career by visiting old friends and family, doing press for his new film “Uprise,” getting ready for his up coming wedding to reality star Fiance Erica (Gabrielle Union) and all the while being shadowed by Chelsea(Rosario Dawson), who is a reporter for The New York Times.
Top Five makes the audience feel as if they are along for this day in the life of Andre Allen where we learn personal details about him. It makes you think about what exactly the cost of fame can not only do to someone but how it affects the people around him and how he deals with whether or not if he considers himself funny, is something I’m sure all comedians (Rock included) feels at some point.
The core of the movie is the dynamic between Rock and Dawson who ground the movie from their banter to them relating and helping each other with a few dilemmas that the two find themselves in at different points in the movie. This is probably my favorite thing about the movie and Rosario shows her range and why she is a very good actress who I believe should be doing more high profile type of films.
Gabrielle Union, even though she gets a high bill, isn’t in the film that much but what she does with this reality star character really speaks about the whole reality star era of Television and how everything that you think is reality isn’t that at all.
I was impressed with JB Smoove as Allen’s bodyguard and really good friend Silk, Smoove who is normally over the top and very animated in other films and TV shows here is more laid back and shows what it means to truly be someone friend
The cameos from some of Chris Rock friends are nice, funny and aren’t distracting in any way and a few of them have some standout moments in the film. I won’t spoil them for anyone who hasn’t seen the film yet but seeing one person in a strip club and making it rain with a stripper is one of my favorites.
Top Five is something that should be seen and enjoyed by fans not only of the actors but to film lovers(like myself) who enjoy films like this that has a good message in it and makes you pay attention more to things also it makes you think about who your Top Five is.
My Top Five
Rappers
- Rakim
- Tupac
- DMX
- Public Enemy
- T.I.
