Top Five (rated C)
Cast: Chris Rock, Rosario
Dawson, Gabrielle Union
Genre: Comedy Drama
Dwight's Rating: 2
Woody Allen films, especially those in which the prolific director/actor/comedian plays the lead character, almost always share certain common themes and elements.
Allen often plays an awkward, insecure, intellectual. The character is frequently a struggling comedian or actor or writer, and almost always inexplicably involved with some of the most beautiful women. As such, the mousy Allen has paired himself with some very talented and attractive actresses, from Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway and Meryl Streep, to Anjelica Huston and Mia Farrow.
But after more than 40 films, we now have what could probably be the first ever "urban" Woody Allen movie in the new flick, "Top Five" -- even though Allen has absolutely nothing to do with it. Instead, we have Chris Rock in the role of Woody Allen, doing all the things Woody Allen would do -- writing, directing and acting.
In fact, it's downright shocking how much "Top Five" is like an Allen movie. From the pacing, to the casting choices, the size of the cast, the delivery of their lines, and the ways the actors don't really seem to be acting. Rather, audiences get the sense they are merely observing people in certain situations.
It's so much like Woody Allen movies, that Rock's character's name is Allen -- Andre Allen, to be exact. He's a stand-up comedian who's hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of action-comedies about a talking bear. In an attempt to branch out and expand his career, he takes on a passion project about the Haitian Revolution. However, when the New York Times' film critic gives the movie a bad review, Andre is reluctant to speak with the paper's profile writer Chelsea (Rosario Dawson), who wants to follow him around for a day. But Andre unexpectedly opens up to her, and is inspired to get back to his comedic roots.
Billed as a comedy, "Top Five" is certainly busting at the seams with comedians -- both stand-up and comic actors. Rock, a former cast member of "Saturday Night Live", is joined by another former cast alum, Tracy Morgan, and almost all of the show's current burgeoning black cast.
Then there are giant box-office draws like Adam Sandler and stand-up legends Jerry Seinfeld and Whoopi Goldberg in very small roles. And, in a desperate move, promotions for the film have heavily featured clips with one of 2014's top box-office comedy stars, Kevin Hart. But fans will be sorely disappointed, as Hart's is one of the movie's briefest cameos.
Being chockfull of comedians does not necessarily a funny film make. "Top Five" is much more of a mildly amusing drama than a comedy. It might be best categorized as a "dramedy". To be very blunt, it's actually not very funny at all. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments. But even today's darkest, most grotesque movies have laugh-out-loud moments. (I laughed as much as this year's exceptionally dark "Nightcrawler" as I did with "Top Five".)
There are also a number of cringe-worthy moments; this is definitely an adult film. At the showing I attended, one scene in a hotel room resulted a collective gasps and groans in disgust.
Rock's channeling of Allen continues straight through to his performance. He's reasonably acceptable as a man battling his demons -- alcoholism and witch of a fiancee, played by Gabrielle Union. But it's Dawson who lights up the screen, with a captivating combination of warmth and enthusiasm.
Many of the other performances are way over-the-top, particularly that of the usually funnier Cedric The Entertainer, and will inspire more cringing than laughing.
So it's important to keep that in mind; "Top Five " is not exactly a funny movie. It is at its core a romantic dramedy, with troubled and challenged characters trying to find their place in the world.
Those willing to accept this proposition may find it to be a relatively smart and entertaining piece, with some of Dawson's best work.
The big questions are whether fans of these many comedians will appreciate seeing them in a Woody Allen-type movie; whether traditional fans of Woody Allen movies will allow themselves to experience an urban version of his work; and whether Woody Allen would actually be flattered.

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