Down to Earth (2001)

Directors:

Chris Weitz
Paul Weitz

Writers (WGA):

Elaine May (1978 screenplay Heaven Can Wait) and
Warren Beatty (1978 screenplay Heaven Can Wait) ...

Release Date:

16 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Fantasy

Tagline:

A story of premature reincarnation.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Heaven | Angel | Reincarnation | Butler | New York Skyline

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Einmal Himmel und zurück (Germany)
I Was Made to Love Her (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA | Australia | Germany | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #38009) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-11 | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Spain:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

3 Art Entertainment

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Plot holes: When Lance prematurely dies, Keyes admits that it wasn't rightfully his time allowing Lance's soul to go back to Earth. At this point Lance's body is no more, all that's left is his soul. After being stuck in limbo as Wellington, they find a new body for Lance. Right upon being placed in the new body, everything that was Lance's mind or life is gone again, defeating the purpose of him being "saved".

Quotes:

[after almost getting in a car accident]
Lance Barton: Sontee, you okay?
Sontee Jenkins: Yeah, I'm okay, Cisco, you okay?
Cisco: Yeah, I'm okay, Wanda, you okay?
Wanda: Hell no! I spilled my drink!

Movie Connections:

References Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

One Time

A black variation of "Heaven Can Wait"? Why not "Casablanca" or "The Maltese Falcon"?

Chris Rock, apparently desperate for a cozy star-vehicle which would cross his appeal over to white and mainstream black audiences, updates the hit 1978 comedy "Heaven Can Wait" with an urban agenda. He plays a struggling comedian involved in a car accident who has his soul removed too soon from his body--consequently, his angels must find another body to place him in, and can only come up with that of a white businessman. Rewriting a movie as bland and sentimental as "Heaven Can Wait" only shows that Rock's eye was on the box-office (this was strictly a corporate move organized by the most mercenary of Hollywood players). Why not strive for something loftier or more memorable than a silly reincarnation comedy that culminates with an Evening at the Apollo? Terrific supporting cast (including the usually-reliable Regina King, the wonderful Mark Addy, Wanda Sykes, Eugene Levy, and terrific Frankie Faison) do what they can, but Rock seems awkward and unsure of himself throughout. *1/2 from ****