Top Five (2014)

A comedian tries to make it as a serious actor when his reality television star fiancée talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her television show.

Director:

Chris Rock

Writer:

Chris Rock

Stars:

Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union

7 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Rock	...	Andre Allen
Rosario Dawson	...	Chelsea Brown
J.B. Smoove	...	Silk
Gabrielle Union	...	Erica Long
Romany Malco	...	Benny Barnes
Hayley Marie Norman	...	Tammy
Anders Holm	...	Brad
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Jazzy Dee
Karlie Redd	...	Rhonda
Kevin Barnett	...	Columbia Student
Genevieve Angelson	...	Columbia Student
Ben Cole	...	Columbia Student
Corey Brown	...	Columbia Student
Maia Wilson	...	Woman with Confidence
Teddy Coluca	...	Maurice

Storyline

New York Times reporter Chelsea Brown is spending a day interviewing comedian and recovering alcoholic Andre Allen, star of the hit film franchise Hammy The Bear, about a cop in a bear suit. Chelsea has forgotten her audio recorder, so they first go to her apartment. While there they discuss a magazine article about the Cinderella complex. Chelsea explains that Cinderella left something behind to let the prince know that she wanted to see him again..

---

Plot Keywords:

breasts | sex scene | female nudity | topless female nudity | gay | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, crude humor, language throughout and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Finally Famous

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,894,814, 12 December 2014, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,277,561, 25 January 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

IAC Films, Jax Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a scene where Gabrielle Union is preparing for her wedding, she is seen holding a cardboard cutout of Adam Sandler. Sandler is a friend and frequent collaborator of Chris Rock, and later cameos as himself in the film.

---

Quotes

Andre Allen: When I listen to satellite radio, I listen to Sirius hits One.
XM Employee: That's good, but just, just make it a little funnier.
Andre Allen: Funnier?
XM Employee: Put a little stank on it.
Andre Allen: Stank?
XM Employee: Nice and funny, go.
Andre Allen: What's up, motherfuckers? This is motherfucking Andre Allen! When I listen to satellite radio, or scratch my nuts, that is, I listen to Sirius motherfucking 101... bee-otch!
XM Employee: First take was good. I was wrong on the stank, though.

---

Crazy Credits

During the end credits, Jerry Seinfeld gives his top five.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween (2017)

---

Soundtracks

Niggas In Paris
Written by Jay Z (as Shawn C. Carter), Mike Dean, Reverend W. A. Donaldson, Hit-Boy (as Chauncey Alexander Hollis) and Kanye West
Performed by Kanye West & Jay Z (as Jay-Z)
Contains a sample of "Baptizing Scene"
performed by Reverend W. A. Donaldson
Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. on behalf of itself, Papa George Music and Please Gimme My Publishing (BMI), Songs of Universal, Inc. on behalf of itself and U Can't Teach Bein The Shhh, Inc., WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) on behalf of itself and Carter Boys Music and Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI).
Courtesy of Roc-A-Fella Records, L.L.C. under license
from Universal Music Enterprises, Atlantic Recording Corp by arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV licensing

User Reviews

An entertaining, albeit forgettable, comedy that, despite its faults, is worth watching

Top Five isn't the best comedy I've seen in recent years, and it is largely forgettable throughout, but it is definitely a breath of fresh air in a movie genre that has, in recent years, become flooded with loud, obnoxious, and expensive blockbusters that try much too hard at being funny and end up only genuinely being funny for enough scenes to fill up the time for its preview. Or even worse, they go on to turn the movie into sequels or trilogies only to repeat the same basic plot with a few new characters for the sole purpose of making money, instead of making a quality film.

Top Five is a relatively mature and intelligent comedy throughout, that ends leaving the viewer satisfied, and for some wanting more but still content with it being the conclusion to this particular story and set of characters. I don't normally review movies on IMDb, but due to the irony of some of the cruel and unnecessarily critical reviews of this movie given by a decent amount of users that I read, after watching a movie that spends time shining light on the effects words have on people, no matter how famous, rich, or happy they are/appear to be.

This movie is by no means Chris Rock's masterpiece, but it is an intelligently crafted, and entertaining film that doesn't deserve to be given any less than a 5 rating. The 7 rating I gave it is largely due to the fact that I enjoy Chris Rock's comedy and he showed me in this film that he hasn't lost a bit of talent since his first big break. It's not a movie I would go see in theaters, but if it pops up for streaming on Netflix, its worth a watch for sure.