Top Five Review

By Kyle Evans

Top Five is Chris Rock’s latest film, a feel-good  comedy flick written, directed and starring the legendary New Yorker himself. The film follows an ageing actor who, throughout the course of a single day, takes the audience on a retrospective journey back through his life.

Rock plays Andre, an over the hill actor and comedian worried that his best days are behind him as he struggles to stay relevant in the public eye. He is about to wed Erica (Gabriel Union), a demanding and ultimately meretricious B list celebrity who is televising their wedding in hopes that it will restore the ratings of her reality TV show.

When the New York Times send their ace celebrity journalist Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson) to write a feature piece on Andre, the two become well acquainted as they reflect on the highs and lows of Andre’s illustrious career. Throughout the day they explore each other’s pasts and lives and they develop a bond by discussing each other’s ‘’top fives’’ of various categories.

While the film does not shy away from conventional cliches, ‘’Will Andre leave the materialistic Erica in favor of modest and upstanding Chelsea’’  the film still manages to stay original thanks to Rock’s sharp screenplay and clever script. The film tackles a range of social issues such as racism, poverty, family and sexuality, and while Rock essentially plays himself, he is still as hilarious as ever. The two female leads also make for a really fun contrast, and there is some really enjoyable cameos from iconic comedians Adam Sandler, Whoopie Golberg and Jerry Seinfeld.

Overall Chris Rock is classically brilliant and Top Five makes for perfect viewing for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Not only is it funny and cleverly executed, it is perceptive, engaging and a good reminder that Chris Rock is still as awesome as ever.