Director: Chris Rock
Writer: Chris Rock (Screenplay)
Starring: Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, J.B. Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Romary Malco, Hayley Marie Norman
Plot: A comedian tries to make it as a serious actor when his reality television star fiancée talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her television show.
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Top Five starts as comedian Andre Allen (Rock) is going on his press tour for his first serious acting role with journalist Chelsea Brown (Dawson) doing a personal story on Andre in a day in the life. Andre is also letting his reality fiancée Erica Long (Union) plan their wedding for a television show.
As the pair spend the day together, Chelsea gets one of the most personal insights into Andre Allen, showing the pressure to change his persona in the public light.
Thoughts on Top Five
Characters & Performances – Andre Allen is the comedian turned movie star that has started to see his career starting to get out of control, with people expecting too much from him, while he is trying to recreate his own career. He doesn’t know who to trust in the industry anymore, while still trying to keep his own fans happy. Chris Rock is great in this role, he gets to reflect what it is like to be put into one type of character in the view of the audience. Chelsea Brown is the journalist that is looking to write a story about Andre, getting to spend the day on his press tour, getting one of the most personal interviews with Andre. Rosario Dawson does well in her role in the film showing the grounded figure in the world filled with people who want things from Andre. Along the day we meet plenty of different people in Andre’s life who have help him, be it his lifelong friend, family, agency, co-stars or fiancée trying to put together the perfect wedding.
Story – The story here follows a day in the life of comedian turned movie star that is trying to redefine his career before his big celebrity wedding, with a journalist looking to write a story about him. This story does feel like an intimate look at celebrity life, showing us the pressure put on the performer to keep their fans happy, while trying to make the most of their own time in the spotlight, how bad decisions will haunt them and addiction could hold up their life. This story is told in a way we haven’t seen much before, mixing the idea that we do get to see these personal interviews with a journalist spending a day with the celebrity, which explains how the film can do the flashback concepts too.
Themes – Top Five is a comedy that follows a stand up comedian turned actor, we will get plenty of jokes through the film, showing us just how Andre Allen can just hit jokes out of nowhere, we explore the New York setting, showing us different places that Andre has been to through his career too, each one will have its own story.
Top Five is a unique approach to a comedy, reflecting the demands placed upon celebrities who only want to same thing from them.
