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Despite being rough around the edges and intermittently funny, “Top Five,” directed by the incredibly gifted but far too frequently forgettable movie star Chris Rock, ultimately succeeds as a frequently filthy rambling about fame, sobriety, selling out, and sex.
There is a frankness and a personal investment in this, his third feature-length directing effort, that was sorely lacking in his previous efforts, “Head of State” from 2003 and “I Think Love My Wife” from 2007. This is fitting for the comedian who rarely feels the need to censor himself while riffing onstage or sounding off in an interview. At some point, the necessity of “rigorous honesty,” a principle upheld by Alcoholics Anonymous, is brought up, and it frequently relates to what is seen on film as well.
An artist may decide to take a close, honest look at their career when they are close to turning 50. And despite how financially successful those appearances may have been, Rock surely doesn’t want his filmography to be defined by a few uninspired Adam Sandler flicks and three appearances as a chatty cartoon zebra in the “Madagascar” series.
Andre Allen, a brilliant stand-up comedian turned hack Hollywood movie clown (like Rock, once named “The Funniest Man in America” by “Time” magazine), is showing all the symptoms of a midlife crisis. Rock reaches for “Stardust Memories” self-reflection along with some “Before Sunrise”-style walkabouts around Manhattan as this day-in-the-life version of himself.
Andre says to a helper, “I don’t feel funny.” And who would dress up as Hammy the Bear in an animal costume after feeding a ravenous bottom-feeding public in three monster-hit cop-buddy romps? His go-to line while being apprehended? 1 It’s time for Hammy! It’s comparable to Tom Hanks playing Hooch rather than Turner while dressed as a mangy dog.
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Despite his dreams that “Uprize!” will become the Haitian equivalent of “Django Unchained,” the historical epic about a slave insurrection that results in a sea of dead white people doesn’t appear to be turning his frown upside down. His having to participate in satellite radio interviews and a full-on press junket while responding to the same pointless inquiries repeatedly, particularly regarding whether there would be a “Hammy the Bear 4,” makes things worse.
As someone who has participated in this ancient media rite many times, I can say that what Rock portrays is very accurate—especially when some of the more infamous journalist junketeers turn up unannounced (hello, it’s Stephen Schaefer!). A forthcoming tabloid wedding to a demanding and desperate Bravo reality star (Gabrielle Union, stunning in her shallowness) that is obviously more of a media ploy than a happily-ever-after union only makes Andre’s situation worse.
The outrageous bursts of randy antics are sure to elicit the largest gasps from audiences—including some who may run for the door. They feature a flashback illustration depicting Andre’s allegedly alcohol-fueled low point. It involves Rock uncomfortable curled up in a fetal position to avoid the large stains left on his bed sheets after seeing Cedric the Entertainer as a sleazy Houston concert promoter cavorting with two hookers amid a storm of pillow feathers in the comic’s hotel room. The only sequence that can surpass that is inserting a hot sauce-soaked tampon in a shaded area as a form of retaliation.
Top Five Quiz
Despite all of that gritty business, though, “Top Five” really stood out to me for the very human and mature interaction between Rock and Rosario Dawson in the role of Chelsea Brown, a “New York Times” writer who is trailing Andre for the day in order to profile him.
Also, you will find out which character are you in this Top Five quiz.
The majority of directors hardly know how to make use of Dawson’s skills beyond using her stunning appearance to fill the screen. But Rock treats her single mother, who has a rocky romantic history and strong ideas, as an equal sparring partner and even opens the movie with a chilly shot of the two talking about the status of the world while walking through the city streets.
Yes, some of the moral dilemmas in this connection that go beyond the attraction they ultimately feel for one another end up being rather absurd. However, these problems are mostly hidden by the palpable natural chemistry between the two performers, as seen in Chelsea’s response to Andre’s notion that the original 1968 “Planet of the Apes” was connected to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
“Top Five” also benefits from a slew of cameo appearances, thanks to Rock’s use of his extensive showbiz connections to assemble an incredible cast of famous actors in little parts. That includes Tracy Morgan before the accident as an acquaintance, Ben Vereen as Andre’s father, JB Smoove as a bodyguard/chauffeur, Kevin Hart as an agent (who delivers a brief but incisive phone rant), Sherri Shepherd as his ex-girlfriend, and JB Smoove as a bodyguard/chauffeur.
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The riotous activities—which include the jokester trio of Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld, and Adam Sandler in character while attending Andre’s bachelor celebration at a filthy neon-lit strip club—have a sweet subtext. It’s gold to listen in on these comedy as they debate the benefits of pre-nups and give advice on marriage to the man of honor.
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The title of the movie is taken from a party game in which participants rate their six all-time favorite rappers. The first surprise on the list of “Top Fivebest “‘s twists would be the arrival of a notorious gangster rapper with a string of arrests under his belt who sings Charlie Chaplin’s sorrowful hymn “Smile” while imprisoned.
Chaplin is one of Andre’s influences, saying before that he is “the KRS-One of humor.” comedy and tenderness. Brutality and love. Rock has at last discovered the yin to his yang as a filmmaker.
For more personality quizzes check this: 90 Minutes In Heaven Quiz.
