Chris Rock is widely recognized one of the world’s funniest men, and yet his own directorial efforts, many of which he wrote himself, failed to be very funny or even good. Fortunately, this seems to have changed with “Top Five” a celebrity-skewering comedy about a successful comedian and movie star (played by Rock) who begins to question his career and choices after an memorable encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson).
In our very positive review from TIFF, we wrote, “Top Five.. avoids the trap of simply being a celebrity vehicle about celebrity by displaying a surprising heart beneath its very funny surface." Here’s the synopsis:
Pulsing with the rhythm of his greatest stand-up, Chris Rock’s TOP FIVE takes things to the next level, reveling in the high and the low, and blending a star-studded comedic romp with an irresistible romance. TOP FIVE digs under the surface of show business, politics, rap, and the exigencies of being black and famous today—holding it all up to the light in the way only Chris Rock can. Mingling echoes of Woody Allen and Dick Gregory with the energy of Kanye West and Jay Z, TOP FIVE is an original and radically new kind of American movie. Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, TOP FIVE tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he’s left behind.
“Top Five” also stars Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. Paramount will release the movie in theaters nationwide December 12th
