Okay so got a couple of movie reviews to write. I apologize, but I have been working for a job that does actually pay me.

First up is Top Five. The new Chris Rock flick from last year.

This 2014 movie starred Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union, and J. B. Smoove. It was directed and written by Chris Rock.

Top Five is story about comedian Andre Allen, played by Chris Rock, who has recently become sober and worries that it his comedy will be affected by it. He is in an engaged to reality star Erica Long, played by Gabrielle Union. Rosario Dawson played Chelsea Brown, a reporter doing a story on Andre’s life, and J.B. Smoove plays Andre’s bodyguard and manager Silk.

The story takes place in modern-day New York and puts on display the life of Andre Allen, a comedian who made his fame through a movie series in which he plays a bear that’s a cop. His fiancé is Erica Long, a reality star who is planning their wedding as a reality extravaganza. Chelsea Brown is a reporter for the New York Times that is trying to get a story about Andre.

Top Five begins with Andre talking to Chelsea about how everything has hidden meanings as they walk down the streets of New York. A recently sober Andre is at a point in his life where he does not want to do the same old movies because he does not feel funny anymore. Andre’s newest movie about the Haitian slave rebellion is being released and he is doing publicity meetings about it. After finishing an interview, Andre tries to get out of his next interview because it’s with the New York Times before his agent talks him back into it.  As the interview begins, Chelsea asks some typical questions that Andre calls her out for but then when she gets personal he becomes agitated. Chelsea accompanies Andre as he runs errands for his wedding across the city. Andre begins telling Chelsea about his life and starts with his low point a trip to do a comedy show in Houston. The story continues when Chelsea is introduced to Andre’s past, that includes old friends, old girl friends, and even his father.

As they continue to do press for the movie in New York, Chelsea has an incident that leads to Andre having to help and pick her up. He goes from defensive to having to cheer someone up. However soon after Andre uncovers a secret that throws his night in a ringer. He leaves Chelsea to go check on how his movie is doing. After a disappointing showing at the screening, Andre has his driver stop a store where he gets back on the liquor train. This leads to an incident that would result in another arrest. Silk picks him up from jail and they head to the bachelor party that Erica has planned and insist that he attends. Andre must decide which way he wants to go with his life. Can he fix is relationship with Erica, and does he want to? Will he go through with his marriage? Will Andre ever find a new purpose for himself? More importantly, can Andre be funny again?

As a Chris Rock fan, this is a must see. With good Chris Rock movies few and far in between in recent years, besides the Grown Up movies and some other cameos, good content from him has hardly really been around.  In my opinion Top Five parallels the actual life of Chris Rock, except for the reality marriage part. This movie discusses how a comedian has been forced to play roles he does not like but audiences love. It shows a close to true struggle that actors deal with in playing roles they don’t love or respect but are made to play because it pays. Chris Rock’s character struggles with the attempt to do more serious movies and push away from his comedic background.  Actors, especially comedians, are forced to play crappy and cartoony roles because the audience that exists loves them. Now don’t get me wrong there are animated and cartoon characters that I love and enjoy watching. This one gets three and a half out of five stars from me. Top Five is a 102 minute movie that has good comedic moments throughout with a good story to go along with it. I would love to see Chris Rock keep at it and make some more comedy movies soon. I think he is one the right track but would love to see him continue to star, write, and direct more films.

“I am telling you, everything means something.” – Chris Rock as Andre Allen

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