Review of Top Five (2014) by Peter F — 14 Dec 2014

Just when you thought that Chris Rock's career as a filmmaker wasn't going to take off, here comes this smart and fresh comedy that would make one think that he was saving his best material just for this.

Perhaps taking a page from his buddy Woody Allen, Rock has made a very personal film where he basically plays a fictionalized version of himself, nicely presented with a good ol' family friendly R-rating.

If you missed Rock's affinity to F-bomb throughout the slew of PG-13 rated mediocrity he released in theaters during the last 15 years, then you'll be satisfied with the raunch on display here (I will never look at Cedric the Entertainer with clean eyes again!).

That said, none of it feels mean-spirited, and Top Five actually brings up some timely issues that should relate to people regardless of their race or economic standing. Also, Rock picked a hell of an editor for this thing, as the movie has plenty of clever cuts and non-linear plot devices, yet still feels closer to American Graffiti than Pulp Fiction.

One of the best films about celebrity culture to come out in recent years.