After making a name for himself in comedy clubs with his wham-bam stand-up schtick, Chris Rock’s move into film was a natural progression for the gifted funnyman. His fast-paced frenetic style has made his work on projects such as the Grown Ups franchise, zap and crackle despite their less than inspired subject matter. While he’s definitely scored some high points during his time on the big screen (2 Days In Paris), he’s in need of a boost; and his next effort, Top Five is the perfect vehicle to reignite his career.
Written, produced and directed by Rock, Top Five earned rave reviews earlier this year when it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. Needless to say, as a hot property it was snatched up by Paramount who have now begun their marketing campaign for the offbeat comedy.
In the pic, Rock stars as a has-been comic, who’s struggling to figure out what to do with his life. From the trailer, we see that a part of his dilemma includes meeting an attractive reporter (Rosario Dawson) while engaged to a reality TV star (Gabrielle Union) – so it can’t be all that bad. There’s also a lot of laughs in this first preview, and it certainly seems like Rock is out to reclaim the comedy crown.
Top Five opens in theatres on December 12th. Check out the plot summary below and trailer above and let us know what you think.
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. Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. The Co-Producers are Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Kanye West; the Executive Music Producer is Questlove.
