The short. Skip Birdman. See Top Five. It’s the same movie with a couple of exceptions. Top Five has humor, is much more realistic, and you can relate more to it. It also isn’t the most over-hyped movie n the last five years. In fact, despite its 88% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and lots of word of mouth on the street, it still surprisingly didn’t do all that great at the box office (just $23 million domestically). I did not see this movie in the theater, though it tempted me. Perhaps the most significant thing going against the film was its release date. It opened on December 12th, right in the middle of when all of the big-time award movies were in the theaters. As a result, it got lost in the shuffle. If the studio could go back in time, they might have released this movie in August.
Rock plays comedian Andre Allen, a down-and-out actor and former stand-up comedian who has likely seen his best days as a comedian pass him by. He’s a recovering alcoholic who has also had trouble with the law. He is most widely recognized for his Hammy the Bear trilogy, a franchise in which he dresses up as a cop in a bear costume the entire time. When he’s on the streets, people yell “Hammy!” to him. His film career feels more like a mockery to him than anything else. This is why he has recently decided that he will no longer do comedies, nor will he do stand-up. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he is a depressed beyond repair actor, but he says numerous times that he doesn’t feel funny and has no interest in doing comedies. The film he is currently starring in, called Uprize, is about the Haitian Revolution. It is currently being torn to shreds by the critics who wonder why he has left his niche to pursue a genre that isn’t really for him. Allen’s major problem over the years has been with reputable New York Times movie critic James Nielson. It seems that he doesn’t like anything Andre is in and once wrote in a review that “he wouldn’t watch his movie it was in his glasses.”
Top Five is very much a comedy. There certainly are some laugh-out-loud moments. But this is not the movie’s only intent. Its desire is not just a quick laugh. Its broader aim is to tell a redemption story. Yes, this is the same story that Birdman tries to tell. There are tons of similarities and differences. I keep harping on the fact that this movie feels far more realistic than Birdman (a movie that I’m still struggling to appreciate). You won’t struggle to comprehend Top Five. It’s a fast, fun, easygoing ride that everyone can enjoy. Oh. And it’s very R-rated so prepare for that going in.
Plot 8.5/10 (not original at all, but still a fun, believable ride)
Character Development 6.5/10
Character Chemistry 8.5/10 (Rock and Dawson sizzle)
Acting 8/10
Screenplay 8.5/10
Directing 8/10
Cinematography 7.5/10
Sound 7.5/10
Hook and Reel 9/10
Universal Relevance 9/10
81%
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