Top Five *** (2014, Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union) – Movie Review

Chris Rock takes a leaf out of Woody Allen’s book, writing, directing and starring in this semi-biographical romantic comedy about Andre Allen, a comedian who’s fed up with being ‘funny’. He decides to try to make it as a serious actor when his attractive but air-headed reality TV star fiancée (Gabrielle Union) talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her telly show.

Rosario Dawson plays Chelsea Brown, a journalist come to interview Andre, but she turns out to be the male film critic who’s been cruelly rubbishing his work. Chelsea has been having boyfriend trouble, and she’s very angry when her latest, a white boy called Brad (Anders Holm), turns out to be gay. She takes hot revenge with spicy sauce and a sanitary product.

There’s no doubt that Rock dislikes film critics as well as gays, and is not afraid to say so, in jest of course, whenever he feels like it. He’s got a rage on about various other kinds of people too. Arguably, Rock may be funny but he’s not got a subtle bone in his body. Rock’s humour motors on anger, and that’s what makes it funny if you find it funny. By contrast, Dawson is a class act, sweet, funny and charming, except, that is, in the segment of the film that includes Brad. This would be so much nicer a movie without it.

Woody Allen with rage and anger, and a whole lot of N-words and F-words and explicit sexual stuff? Well, that’s interesting, huh?

Rock’s character, Andre Allen, is named after his brother, Andre, and his grandfather, Allen.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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