Chris Rock’s previous two directorial efforts—Head of State in 2003 and I Think I Love My Wife in 2007—may not have been all-time classics, but both allowed Rock (who starred in both) to play a character very true to himself onscreen. He’s doing that again in Top Five (which he also wrote), as Rock plays a comedian-turned-film star who must face the comedy career and personal past he had long left behind.
The cast is a who’s who of comedy, and features big names like Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, and Jay Pharoah. The movie’s Co-Producers are Jay-Z and Kanye West, and Questlove is serving is Music Producer.
Got all that? No wonder Paramount Pictures wanted this movie, especially since it was extremely well-reviewed at the Toronto International Film Festival, with CEO Brad Grey saying that “This film showcases brilliantly how talented Chris is as a filmmaker and storyteller and we are thrilled to be partnering with him.”
