I don’t know if there’s a film this holiday season or this year that packs as many laughs in its run time as Chris Rock‘s film Top Five. Whether its from the hilarious situations or the incredible cameos, Rock has fashioned an enjoyable film that routinely will have you in stitches. More than just just a hilarious film, Top Five also manages to be an interesting look at celebrity, race and relationships and while not everything in this film worked for me, it’s still a movie you have to check out.
What exactly is Top Five about? The film is about Andre Allen (Chris Rock), a former stand up comedian and comedic superstar, who is on the eve of several big events: his wedding to reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union) and the release of Uprize, a film about the most violent Hatian rebellion ever, his first stab at serious acting. He’s constantly arrested by folks on the street who scream “Hammy!” when they see him (the film’s best gag) and to make matters worse he’s wrestling with his sobriety. Added to this powder keg is journalist Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), from the NY Times, whom Andre is less than enthused to chat with given how the Times and writer James Nielsen have trashed him and every film he’s ever made. However, as the day progresses, him and Chelsea become closer and his look back at his career reveals some interesting truths.
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, this movie is nothing if not funny. Rock has always been a gifted comedian, both on stage and on screen, and it’s no surprise that Top Five makes you laugh. What was surprising was the many ways the script generates its laughs. I mean from the slapstick elements to gross out humor to standup jokes to cameos that will have you in stitches, Rock finds every way to make you chortle. However, jokes don’t exist in a vacuum and the story structure/emotional beats that really make the movie work. Top Five is a really interesting character study of celebrity, drug/alcohol abuse, love, and the intersection of race with all of those. It’s also a romantic comedy and a Cinderella story, how Rock was able to keep all of those elements in synchronization is a feat.
Though much of Top Five managed to engage me there were a couple of things that threatened to undo what a good time I was having. The movie starts on a really strange note with it’s flash forward and though the non-linear narrative works in many instances, it forces the movie into some weird situations in the beginning. Speaking of strange detours, Top Five rest a significant chunk of its narrative on a gay joke/reveal that is as awkward as it is kind of offensive. Sure in comedy, things can go some weird places but this “joke” and the resulting scenes really threaten to ground the movie to a halt and honestly could have been solved in a different way.
What saves this movie from these issues is the cast, one of the year’s finest ensembles. It’s so difficult to point out exactly who to highlight as everyone is so great, even the folks playing themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed Chris Rock as Andre Allen, finding ways to use his past as a comedian and actor, as well as handling the more dramatic elements this character required. Matching him step for step is the criminally underappreciated Rosario Dawson, who is just amazing in the part of Chelsea Brown, and comes alive the more you learn about her character. I could watch her challenge Rock for days. On the supporting side J.B. Smoove and Garbielle Union, as his right hand man and fiance, respectively, give incredibly naturalistic but standout performances. On the cameo side, Cedric the Entertainer is a riot as a Houston club owner and there’s an appearance from a famous rapper who I won’t say that brings the house down.
For all this and more, you should go see Top Five.