Review of Top Five (2014) by Floyd H — 24 Aug 2015

It's Chris Rock, so of course it's often quite funny and features witty, relatable observations on everyday life. With a supporting cast that features some the best comedians alive today, Rock seemingly negates his questionable status as a leading man and nearly crafts an ensemble piece. An extremely likable love interest in Rosario Dawson also helps.

Ultimately, however, one can't get beyond the nagging sense that he is watching one celebrity's passion project -- and all the narcissistic bits that come along with that. Chris Rock basically plays himself in this semi-biographical role. While certainly self-deprecating, he still falls prey to plenty of not-so-thinly-veiled attempts at keeping himself cool and collected. There's nary an effort to really deconstruct the man except for the obligatory drug/alcohol binge and tortured artist, creative dry spell themes. Also, while admittedly just a personal gripe, I would have preferred the movie take on more of a 'day in the life' kind of setup than being what amounts to a somewhat raunchy romantic comedy. I really didn't expect that.

Still, there's a decent couple of laughs. Cedric the Entertainer is particularly enjoyable in his bit role as small-time hustler/wannabe promoter, Jazzy Dee. His scenes are some of the funniest.