Films/DVD Asylum

'Top Five': Chris actually Rocks . . .

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"Don't ever make a decision right after a blow job." Very good advice from Mr Rock near the end of this entertaining and surprisingly good film.

Andre Allen (Rock) has hit a slump and no longer feels funny nor does he want to make 'Hammy The Bear IV'. He has just completed his first serious film about the first slave rebellion in Haiti where 50K white people were slaughtered and he is in NYC for the opening weekend which is also the weekend for his West Coast wedding to a soap star. (The film is a very funny device ongoing in the background.)

The NYTimes assigns Dawson to follow him for the day to take notes and interview and this is where we see Chris Rock the "actor" for the first time. He's not bad because he doesn't look to be acting--never mind he is really playing himself. Dawson is also a nom de plume movie critic who has crucified all of Andre's films...it gets really sticky.

Funny, lots of stereotyping by a lot of cameos and it seems all good. In one scene the all time record for N-word was set but don't get the idea that this is Rock standup, it's one scene. Early on Cedric arranges for two hookers to visit Andre and a very funny scene ensues with nudity I did not expect. The wealth of cameos is mind boggling and even the name dropping runs high. I will never forget the sight of Seinfeld gleefully hurling Franklins to stage side strippers at Rock's bachelor party or the hilarious advice Sandler gives him about marriage.

As expected the Dawson thing slowly turns towards being the real thing despite her torching Rock in movie reviews. The movie has several twists and ends on an upbeat note as Andre rediscovers his stand up roots and makes a fateful gesture to Dawson.

Everyone was giving solid performances in this film. This was a good first time out for Rock as a writer. The editing was done to great effect and helped both the humor and pace greatly.

Not many people are going to be motivated to see this but it is worth a rental or streaming. Rock does "serious" well and deserves the the title "actor".

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