REVIEW of film: "TOP FIVE" -- including PHOTOS of a visit by writer-director CHRIS ROCK himself

REVIEW of film:  "TOP FIVE" -- including PHOTOS of a visit by writer-director CHRIS ROCK himself

2014, 12-29:

     Some questions have been raised about postings to this website.  I still SEE a large number of new film releases each year (50-100 or so)…

        …  But, it’s extremely TIME-CONSUMING to view, create writeups & photos, & then POST the Reviews & Reports online.  There have been a slew of very important “OTHER” projects that have needed to be handled in the past couple of years…

               …  Thus, due to TIME constraints & the like, it’s been vital that my time be spent mainly on those “SUPPLEMENTARY” projects… 

                       …  But, to “reassure” you that I’m still “AROUND” (& “active” in my own “way”), I’m going to herewith provide you with a NEW Review / Report:

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             …  In CHICAGO (as in numerous other locales), a great many of the advance screenings of movies are affiliated with / promoted by various RADIO & TV stations, wherein people can enter contests or call-in to win passes…

                  …  Periodically, those stations “HOST” the general event to varying degrees. Mainly, it’s just to “welcome” the audience.  But, every once in a while, there’s a little “entertainment” before the film starts, usually involving things like questions to win some prizes…

                       …  On December 10, there was an advance screening of CHRIS ROCK’s new film “TOP FIVE”, hosted by 103.5 KISS-FM (iHeart Radio) at a downtown multiplex... 

                              …  Before the film, the audience was greeted by the station’s very personable spokesman “ERIKZ”— who describes himself this way on their Facebook page:  “Starbucks People Watcher. Amateur Goat Breeder. Professional Wingman. (..okay.. two of the three). Keep in touch! Twitter/Vine: @ErikZ Facebook/Youtube: @ErikZonAir ”…

                            … As part of the festivities (which eventually included some trivia questions for prizes), ERIK went into the audience & chose some volunteers to compete in a “DANCE-OFF” contest for one of three $ 50 gift-card prizes…

                                 …  To the surprise of me and I think most other people in the audience, a number of the people chosen – plus ERIKZ himself – turned out to be really EXCELLENT, creative dancers, giving the audience a bunch of enjoyable performances (as you can see in some of my enclosed PHOTOS shot of the event)…

                                     …  Then, shortly before the movie itself was to begin, Erik presented CHRIS ROCK himself, there LIVE in person in the theater…  (Unusually, the theater had NOT restricted people from carrying or using their PHONES to take PHOTOS of him there, as shown by MY photos below…)

                                         …  The audience greeted Chris with HEARTY enthusiasm.  Very comfortable (as usual), he KIDDED around about Chicago institutions, saying things like, “How about those [baseball] CUBS [who did pretty HORRIBLY last year, as usual]?!”, etc…   

                                                …  He did the same re the football BEARS (who had a miserable season), & then added--  of course, the city does have the BULLS in basketball (who do well), and especially the hockey BLACKHAWKS (who’d been doing excellently)…

                                                      …  When the audience CHEERED his comments, he quickly added a typical “Rock-ian” comment, remarking to the mostly-black audience there that, being honest, could those cheering actually NAME even 3 MEMBERS of the Blackhawks squad (which is almost completely a white team)?!, which brought forth appropriately loud laughs…

                                                                 …  Getting to the subject of his film we’d be seeing, Chris said he was very PROUD to have both WRITTEN & DIRECTED his new movie, which he’d very much ENJOYED making with the help of numerous co-star friends… 

                                                                        …  He said, he hoped WE’D enjoy watching it, &, if we did, please SHARE that impression with our friends!...  And, he urged us to use SOCIAL MEDIA to TWEET & POST about our positive reactions...  Chris added, if we didn’t feel really positive, feel free to keep “QUIET” about it!... 

                                                                            …  Chris exited to enthusiastic applause, & the movie soon started…

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     The basic PLOT of the film is, a very popular COMEDY-film performer (CHRIS ROCK as “Andre Allen” who makes low-level “HAMMY”-the-bear films) decides he wants to be taken more “SERIOUSLY”, & works to LEAVE being funny by making a “IMPORTANT” film about an historical black Uprising in HAITI…  

          …  His friends (& some family members including TRACY MORGAN) try to warn him “AWAY” from publicizing the Uprising film…

                …  It also doesn’t “help” his situation by his having plans to marry a REALITY TV star (GABRIELLE UNION as “Erica Long”), with the event being broadcast on her own TV show…

                     …  Adding to the mix is supposed-reporter “Chelsea Brown” (played by ROSARIO DAWSON), who keeps interviewing & “hanging” with Chris all over the New York City area…

                      … There are numerous of Chris’ comedy friends (such as ADAM SANDLER, JERRY SEINFELD, etc.) who are in the film.  But, outside of WHOOPIE GOLDBERG (who makes a comment about the importance of marriages) & short bits by JB SMOOVE & CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, they really don’t “DO” or “ADD” much of anything special to the overall movie…

                            …  I also liked the small, enthusiastic work by KEVIN HART [who shows his own excellence in “fast-patter” comedy as one of the main stars in the quite funny “THE WEDDING RINGER” film being released January 16, 2015]…

                                  …  Will Chris be able to SUCCEED as a “serious” rather than comedic actor in his movie?...  

                                   ...  Will he be “ACCEPTED” for his new “persona”?...  

                                    ...  Will his MARRIAGE to Gabrielle move forward as he hopes?... 

                                     ...  What will ever-present ROSARIO’s “position” be in his life?...

                    …  I found writer-director Chris’ film to have a number of FUNNY elements--  mostly from “situational” elements rather than any special “cleverness” re comedy writing…  I found his finely-relaxed ACTING (& character in the film) to be the STRONGEST aspect of his work in the movie…

                             …  I’d rate the film like 7.50 out of 10 stars overall…

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