By William Wolf

TOP FIVE  Send This Review to a Friend

Although there is a brief and hilariously raunchy bit of standup by Chris Rock included, Rock as writer, director and star has graduated in “Top Five” to a new level of achievement. He has made a full-fledged comedy, both romantic and sharply funny, that tries to say something about movie stardom in general and black stardom in particular. The result is an often hilariously entertaining romp that demands we look at Rock in a new light.

Of course, much of the comedy is profane with no holds barred with respect to language and an uproarious sex scene not for those who have no taste for such candid fun. But all of this serves the plot points involved as well as shows off Rock’s comedic gifts and those of a supporting largely black cast.

There is another special attraction, the highly appealing, impressively spirited performance by Rosario Dawson as Chelsea Brown, a New York Times reporter assigned to interview Andre Allen (Rock), a movie star famed for playing Hammy, an action figure in a bear suit. Allen is publicizing his effort to make a more serious film about a revolution, “Uprize!,” which is an embarrassing flop.

If every New York Times reporter were as free-wheeling as Chelsea Brown, the paper might be a lot more interesting, although also saddled with a bunch of no-nos. It doesn’t take much to expect at the outset that Chelsea, a recovering alcoholic like Andre, will wind up romantically entwined with him. Meanwhile, they are traipsing through Manhattan trading barbs as the reporter persists in trying to uncover the real Andre and also in the confessional process revealing the real Chelsea with a riotously raunchy experience of her own.

There are flashbacks In which Andre fills in the gaps, including his hilarious low point when he is thoroughly bombed and having a threesome in a hotel room with two woman promised $1000 for the stint, and the man who arranged it subsequently showing up to also have a rowdy time in bed with the women while the incredulous Andre watches.

Andre is ready to wed Erica, a grasping reality TV star played with a mix of greed and pathos by Gabrielle Union, who is making a media spectacle out of her opportunity. Rock as writer-director has a nifty way of resolving the conflict between his planned wedding and his increasingly deep feeling for Chelsea in a sophisticatedly understated but satisfying end to the film.

Before that he has touched a variety of bases, both comedic and meaningful, and so many cast members have played a part, including JB Smoove, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michel Che, Jay Pharoh and Ben Vereen. There’s also a surprise scene with noted comic actors sitting around and spewing comments.

When the film is over, you may think back and realize how much Rock has packed into this effort that most likely, laughter aside, reflects his personal feelings about his career and where it is going, with his acute takes on the entertainment world in which he moves. A Paramount Pictures release. Reviewed December 18, 2014.

  

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