Epic Disappointment

Okay, maybe I set the bar too high.   Way, way too high.  But I was expecting a bit more from "Top Five."   And when a movie delivers virtually nothing for you, it is, as the title today says, an epic disappointment.

I've always liked Chris Rock.   I thought he was one of the smarter comic minds to come out of SNL over the past two decades because his humor is a bit more insightful and less self-conscious.  Then, a few years ago, Rock produced an outstanding documentary called "Good Hair," which detailed Black women's seemingly endless quest to achieve hair that looks like that of a White women.   The film was fun and amazingly thought-provoking.   I remember at the time thinking that, if he wanted to do it, Chris Rock could have a fabulous career as a documentary filmmaker, one that is far more interesting than the bloated Michael Moore.

But Rock's next major creative work turns out to be "Top Five" and the extreme high has sunk to a perilous low.  Indeed, this movie is really Chris' sad attempt at mimicking Woody Allen and, unfortunately, he is not up to the task.  Let's face it, in this kind of introspective comedy genre, Woody has an over-forty-year head start.  Plus, if you have seen the latter's 1980 movie "Stardust Memories," "Top Five" is nothing more than a complete copy of that work except for a rap and urban soundtrack.

Rock plays Andre Allen, a renowned comedic legend who has made fluff movies and yearns to be taken seriously as an actor.  To that point, the film takes place on the opening day of Andre's dramatic debut in a movie that depicts a Haitian rebellion.  Andre spends the day worrying about the film's prospects as he walks around NYC with a New York Times reporter (played by Rosario Dawson) in tow.  He bounces from old friend to family to comedy clubs to liquor stores, all the while juggling phone calls from his reality TV star/fiancee back west.  Ultimately, he winds up at a party with his good friends Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, and Whoopi Goldberg.  

If any of this sounds remotely interesting to you, I have done a bad job in setting up this review.

So much happens to Andre in this single day that it's unfathomable to even comprehend.  Laced on are extensive flashbacks to his day with a wilder lifestyle and that's basically long scenes of doing drugs and having crazy sex with hookers.  None of this sets up Andre Allen as being the slightest bit likeable.   And who the hell in the audience can identify with the plight of a comedy legend?  I certainly am not friends with any.  Are you?

This is such a major wrong turn in Chris Rock's career path than I would like to shake some sense into him.  You don't care about anybody in this film and certainly don't want to spend time with them.  This is in vast contrast to that "Good Hair" documentary which was incredibly enlightening.  

I'm waiting for his next attempt in that genre. And will gladly avoid like the plague any future endeavors like "Top Five."

LEN'S RATING:   One-half star.

Dinner last night:  Leftover meat loaf.