Frustrated by life
Bakang Israel | Friday April 3, 2015 10:34
Although yours truly watched this comedy, there were a lot of mixed reactions (backlash of skepticism) from those who had watched Top Five on premiere night, which explains the fewer turnouts.
The film also seemed to be in the shadows of another latest release in 3D animation, Home, starring Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, which got more attention.
Top Five is a 2014 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Chris Rock himself. The film mainly focuses around comedian, Andre Allen’s (Rock) life.
Rock is famous for acting in hit comedy films like I Think I Love My Wife, Death At A Funeral and Madagascar animations of 2007, 2010 and 2013 respectively, amongst others. As for supporting roles, in Top Five two beautiful and celebrated women in Black Entertainment Gabrielle Union (as Erica Long) and Rosario Dawson (as Chelsea Brown) fight for Allen’s attention creating a romantic headache.
Top Five tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career and the past that he has left behind.
The movie features a number of stars like Cedric the Entertainer, Adam Sandler, and other comedians making cameos or special appearances. The language use in this comedy film is also too explicit, but you know what they say ‘we like it bad’ to say the least.
One of the hilarious statements from this movie is when Rock suggests “rapper and thug Tupac would be one of the political leaders by now in America”. Besides all the craziness in the film, Top Five offers a very authentic message to the viewer.
It communicates the message that although we sometimes we dream and aspire to be something else, life taking its course might direct you in a different direction.
The comedian’s frustration is visible in one of the scenes where Allen wants attention for his new movie career, but people disregard him due to his past as a stand up comedian.
The movie has a lot of humour, for instance we were left in stitches after being taught how homosexuals were punished with chilly sauce.
Top Five also tells a story of love, that sometimes we tend to look for love elsewhere whilst what we really need is in front of us.
Rock’s reality-TV star fiancée, Erica Long (Union) seeks to use him into broadcasting their wedding on her TV show to increase her fame and ratings.
It turns out that journalist, Brown (Dawson), who is doing a story on him, has always had the ‘hots’ for him. Lastly the character roles and the jokes in the movie are refreshing. We see Cedric The Entertainer playing a more demeaning role as a pimp (ganster), reminiscent of Kurt Williams in Ice Cube’s hit comedy Next Friday as a ghetto pimp.
It is also my first time seeing Union playing a diva. With regard to the jokes, Rock was at it again with his stand up comedy antics delivering the funny stuff as evidenced by this quote below.
Andre Allen: “A lot of people don’t like dates. Everybody is like, ‘I hate dating. I hate dating.’”
Andre Allen: “I like dates. Dates are cool.”
Andre Allen: “Cause a date means someone is considering having sex with you.”
Andre Allen: “So, and they’re just pondering doing that to you.”
Box office reception for this comedy suggests the response was negative. Since its release in December 2014, Top Five has only accumulated $25 million. The movie was produced from a budget of $12 million. This is not surprising judging by the fact that the movie was written and directed by an actor, it shows he does not have the expertise.
Movie: Top Five
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Age Restriction: 16
Director: Chris Rock
Main Cast: Chris Rock stars as (Andre Allen), with Rosario Dawson (Chelsea Brown) and Gabrielle Union (Erica Long)
This week’s hottest movies on Box Office.
1. Home
2. Get Hard
3. Insurgent
4. Cinderella
5. It Follows
For this experience Top Five gets a 6.5/10 rating.