Down to Earth (2001)

After dying before his time, an aspiring comic gets a second shot at life...by being reincarnated as a wealthy but un-likeable businessman.

Directors:

Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Writers:

Elaine May, Warren Beatty,

Stars:

Chris Rock, Regina King, Chazz Palminteri

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Rock	...	Lance Barton
Regina King	...	Sontee Jenkins
Chazz Palminteri	...	King
Eugene Levy	...	Keyes
Frankie Faison	...	Whitney Daniels
Mark Addy	...	Cisco
Greg Germann	...	Sklar
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Mrs. Wellington
Wanda Sykes	...	Wanda
John Cho	...	Phil Quon
Mario Joyner	...	Apollo M.C.
Bryetta Calloway	...	Gospel Singer
Martha Chaves	...	Rosa
Brian Rhodes	...	Charles Wellington, III
Herb Lovelle	...	Trashman

Storyline

It seems everyone is trying to get into heaven; at least those whose time is up. For Lance Barton, a struggling comedian and bicycle messenger, it's the last thing on his mind. His due date upstairs is 50 years away. In the meantime, he's got big dreams to pursue on Earth, such as landing a slot at the final Amateur Night Contest at the famed Apollo Theatre. Lance's has one little problem though - he ain't that funny. Thanks to an over-cautious emissary from heaven, Mr. Keyes, he's going to get hit (literally) with a much bigger problem. Showing that even God has difficulty finding good help these days, the inept minion mistakenly plucks Lance from a traffic accident - before it takes place. Transporting him to the Pearly Gates, or more accurately, the velvet roped-lines of the hottest club around, the error is finally addressed by Mr. King, the streetwise, no-nonsense head angel who manages the place from his plush windowed office. Since returning to his own body on Earth is ...

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Plot Keywords:

heaven | butler | reincarnation | angel | unfaithful wife | 

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Taglines:

A story of premature reincarnation.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor and some drug references

Details

Country:

USA Australia Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Was Made to Love Her

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£612,462 (UK) (8 June 2001)

Gross:

£1,891,612 (UK) (6 July 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Art Entertainment, Alphaville Films, CHS Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the comedy routines used in the movie were on Chris Rock's "Bigger and Blacker" album.

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Goofs

The hospital is supposed to be in Brooklyn, but when we look across the river to Manhattan we see the Queensboro bridge and the UN which both would mean the filmed it in Queens, not Brooklyn.

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Quotes

[Lance and King looking at Charles Wellington's body]
Lance Barton: How am I supposed to get laughs lookin' like him?
King: Aw, c'mon, he looks funny to me.
Lance Barton: I already get booed, do I really have to be beat down on it?

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Connections

References The Blair Witch Project (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Gin and Juice"
By Snoop Dogg (as Cordozar Broadus) & Dr. Dre (as Andre Young)
Performed by Snoop Dogg
Courtesy of Death Row Records
Contains samples from "Watching You"
By Steve Arrington, Steve Washington, Raymond Turner, Daniel Webster & Mark Adams and "I Get Lifted"
By Harry Wayne Casey (as Harry Casey) & Richard Finch
Performed by KC & The Sunshine Band
Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment Company
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
And courtesy of EMI Records Ltd.
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

No guts, no glory

To enjoy any fantasy comedy, the viewer must be able to suspend disbelief. It is impossible to suspend disbelief for Down to Earth.

Why do we see Chris Rock as Chris Rock, when everyone around him sees him as Charles Wellington, rich, fat white man? Why? Because the producers thought they could make more money showcasing Rock, than having us see Rock as Wellington. It ruins much of the movie's attempted humor. For example, when Rock (as Wellington) uses the "N" word, black folks who hear him become furious, and we have to remember that he is supposedly this rich, fat white man.

The film does have some funny moments, and Regina King is attractive as the love interest. It could have been really good, though.