If there is one comedian who can never do wrong, that comedian is Chris Rock. Rock has been riding high through a series of successful comedy specials including “Bigger & Blacker” and 2 critically acclaimed TV Series. Now, he’s back and ready to make us laugh once more with “Top Five”

Top Five follows the life of Andre Allen (Chris Rock), a successful comedian who finds himself at a crossroads in his career. After starring in successful “Hammy the Bear” films, Allen wants to do more dramatic roles. The way he does this is by starring in a thought invoking drama about the Haitian slave revolution called “Uprize”. Nonetheless, the press and his fans only want to talk about Hammy and him continuing the role. At the same time he’s promoting his latest film, he is days away from marrying reality star Erica Long (Gabrielle Union) in a highly publicized Bravo TV event. Andre isn’t thrilled about it, but he’s willing to go along with Erica’s wishes.

Andre reluctantly agrees to participate in a profile set up by the New York Times, although a ruthless film critic continually rips his movies to shreds. The critic from the Times never showed. Instead, a reporter named Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson) spends the day with Allen to find out about who he is and what makes his funny. She promises to deliver an article that insightful and informative that anything the ruthless critic did to him previously. In the course of a couple of days, the two discover a common thread of being recovering alcoholics and secrets that make them who they are.

Top Five is Rock’s Magnum Opus; it grabs your attention and never lets go for a minute. Rock has filled the film not so perfectly timed humor, period. If you can enjoy the comedic madness of many cameos in the film and make their parts shine bright, then you got a dynamic hit on your hands. In fact, every supporting character and cameo in “Top Five” delivers, but most importantly serves the film in such a way to advance the plot.

Rock and Dawson’s chemistry is amazing that you felt that Brown and Allen knew each other in another life and are finally reuniting for the first time. Well all know that Rock excels in comedy but he proves to handle the drama, as well. He manages to bring the honest truth of being a comedian in his prime wanting to break free. Granted, the movie is nothing more than a row of comedy scenes than a structured tale, but Rock knows how to finish strong, time & time again.

In case, you’re wondering My Top Five Reasons to see Top Five:

• A great storyline
• Wonderful cameos like Jerry Seinfeld, DMX and Whoopi Goldberg
• It’ll make you laugh during the holiday season
• Brilliant chemistry between Dawson & Rock
• Finally, It’s Chris Rock at his best!

TRR GRADE: A

About The Author

Dean Rogers

Editor-in-Chief/Entertainment Reporter

I knew early on that I wanted to take my place among the stars. One day, my mother saw me reading The Washington Post at a very young age. Who would have known that it would be the building blocks of my journey? Since that day, I dedicated my life to learn all that is learnable. I read everything from encyclopedias, to books, to dictionaries, to magazines. I’m also an avid consumer of television, with my favorite genre being game shows. If you’ve seen me on Who Wants to be a Millionaire or Wheel of Fortune, then you know that this interest has served me well!

My unique style of reporting began back in junior high school, when I started to chronicle the events that shaped my life. Whether it was the annual family vacation or the local science fiction convention, I shot numerous pictures and recorded my thoughts so I could truly appreciate the history. During my senior year at Friendly High, I wrote what was to be my first masterpiece, “Advanced Space Academy – A One Week Journey.” I sent the eleven-page article back to the U.S. Space Camp staff. The article was highly praised for being “one of the best written articles in the history of U.S. Space Camp.” From then on, I knew what I wanted to do for rest of my life — to be a reporter.

Since then, I have trained in Broadcast Journalism at Bowie State University (2008) in Bowie, MD earning a B.S. in Communications. I gained experience in news production and editing through field experiences with Bowie Community Media Corporation, Prince George’s Community Television, and Bowie State University Television. I also wrote scripts for a variety of quiz shows for over five years.

As a lifelong movie buff, I now see close to 100 films every year. I took this love of movies to the next step when I became a co-host for Eclipse Magazine TV in the fall of 2005. While at EMTV, I interviewed celebrities, worked red carpets, and attended a wide variety of movie screenings. In January 2009, I took a leap of faith and started my own entertainment news magazine, The Rogers Revue. Shortly afterward, my life-long journey of studying the silver screen and writing about what I learned finally earned me a place in the Washington Area Film Critics Association.

All of this has led me here, giving you the latest entertainment news for the DMV and the entire nation, and I am truly excited for whatever will come next.

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