Review: Chris Rock's 'Top Five' co-starring Rosario Dawson

We've been waiting a lot of years for Chris Rock to finally put all of the pieces together; to combine the sharp, hilarious social commentary of his stand-up act with the obvious love he has for cinema. Overtly paying homage to the classic films of others hasn't really worked out in Rock's earlier directorial efforts, and nor should we expect it to. Whether he's on stage or on Twitter, Rock is one of the funniest guys on the planet but he does it by examining his own life and how it fits in today's society. Celebrities waxing on about the problems of other celebrities rarely works, but Rock has found the perfect formula for doing so in Top Five, an introspective look at stardom that happens to be the funniest movie of the year.

Bristling with the energy of the Manhattan streets right from the start, Top Five is always moving, whether it's to the next joke or the next discovery as Rock examines his celebrity. He plays Andre Allen, a comedian who hit the big time with a series of popular cop comedies in which he dresses up as bear named "Hammy". His catchphrase "It's hammy time" is part of the national lexicon whether he likes it or not, and he most certainly doesn't. Now trying to go legit with "Uprize", a serious movie about a Haitian slave rebellion, Andre is also on the verge of getting married to a reality star (Gabrielle Union) for broadcast on national TV. So he's at a professional and personal fork in the road, and hardly in the mood for a lengthy interview with Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), a writer for a magazine that has typically trashed his work.

It's not hard to see Rock coming to grips with the path his own career has taken, while at the same time finding ways to joke about the nature of being famous. He also builds, rather subtly, a sweet little romance at the center. But this can hardly be called a traditional love story by any means. It's a comedy first and foremost, with Rock inviting what seems like an endless string of his buddies (Jerry Seinfeld, Cedric the Entertainer, Tracy Morgan, and many more) popping up for what seem like extended stand-up riffs. Also a character study, Rock gives each character just enough time to be fully realized, such as JB Smoove's role as Andre's best friend/body guard. While the running gag about his "big girl fetish" is funny (it could have been annoying), we also see in small doses the genuine concern he has for Andre, who is dealing with some other personal demons. While some of the revelations towards the end don't quite come together as Rock intended, so much works that they're only a minor quibble. Besides, you'll be too busy laughing to notice.

And it's good to see Rock hitting on all cylinders like this. At heart he is a true lover of film; the last film he directed was inspired by Eric Rohmer'sChloe in the Afternoon, but it didn't have that personal touch Top Fivedoes. Comedy and truth go hand-in-hand and there is honesty in Top Fivethat is undeniable, and yet the tone remains light throughout. Rock is best when at his most raw, and he's not afraid to get downright nasty. Try not to laugh (and possibly throw up) at a flashback to a particularly gross sexual encounter. Try not to pick your own favorites as Andre and his friends rank their top five favorite rappers. It may seem like a trite, throwaway aspect to the story but the rankings will come to mean something special by film's end. So much of Top Five turns out that way, though. The bulk of the film sees Rock sharing the screen with Dawson, and they are a perfect match for one another. We've never seen Rock this comfortable on screen, but you know what? Everybody seems that way opposite Dawson who is absolutely delightful. She's never been better.

So if it's tough to make us care about the troubles of celebrities, Rock has figured out how to do it. Just make sure we laugh. A lot. Top Five isn't just one of the best movies you'll see this year, it deserves to be in your top five.

 Rating: 4 out of 5