Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
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At an early point in this film Chris Rock's character is on the stage doing a stand up comedy routine. It's not going well and all you can hear is the sound of the wind blowing through the auditorium. That's pretty much the effect this movie had on me.
Rock plays Lance Barton, an amatuer stand-up comedian whose act stinks. One night he gets hit by a truck after he is too busy eyeing up a lady by the name of Sontee (regina king). As he enters heaven it's discovered he was taken too early so gets the chance to go back to earth by reincarnation. The body he chooses is an old ruthless businessman who happens to have been bumped off by his younger wife and is no big favourite of Sontee. You see this business man has bought the community hospital where Sontee works and is planning on shutting it down. Of course antics ensue with the business man having Lance's soul so he acts differently, his wife is in complete bewilderment because she thought he was dead and Sontee is the object of his affections. Basically what you have here is a black man in an old white mans body.
I watched this film on dvd and apparantly Chris Rock has been dubbed "the funniest man in america". I've seen his stand up routine and he can be funny so this film must be comedy gold right? Well no this film isn't really at all funny, there are a few mild laughs throughout but the majority of them don't come from Rock. If you're really into Rock's persona then you may enjoy it more but he certainly lacks the hyped delivery of Eddie Murphy. As I've mentioned before most of the laughs come from the supporting cast. Wanda Sykes is someone I've never heard of before but as the bitter housekeeper every line delivery she makes is good. "If that bitch have one more face lift she's gonna be farting out her nose!" is just one of the best lines in the entire 90 minutes. Also enjoyable are Best In Show stalwarts Jennifer Coolidge and Eugene Levy, both are people we should see more of in movies.
You've also got the love story part where Regine King is falling in love with Rock's character. We see it is Rock but she sees an old man, it's a bit hard to believe but it's the old sappy adage that "its whats inside that counts". She also seems to be the only one who doesn't question the real change in a man she used to despise. We also don't see enough of the old man in question to really sell the idea of Rock being in another body.
The directors of this film are Chris and Paul Weitz who made American Pie, their direction is a bit flat and perhaps some pie incident was needed to save the film. You've also got the usual black man/white man jokes. Now I don't mean this a racist but there's a lot in this film that seems to cater for black people but I'm sure some wouldn't appreciate the sterotypes such as the black men in the souped up Jeep with the heavy bass rap music who take offense to a white man getting down to it.
At the end of the day this film is so very average, not a lot happens. By no means is it an awful film but considering that Rock is meant to be carrying this film you have to ask the question.
Why isn't this film funny?"
Maybe it's due to the fact that it's a remake of a film that was a re-make of another film that was an adaptation of a play. I don't know.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Great review - I was expecting this to be good and was gonna watch it on video but I don't think I'll bother now, thanks for the info :)) Nicola
TheUsualSuspect 19.08.2001 13:24
Again, a good review. However I must say I think you've been a little kind on this dire film. Not being funny is always a bit of a downer in comedies don't you think?
Take care
piffles 19.08.2001 13:13
Haven't ever seen at and to be honest after reading this I don't think I'll ever bother to. Good op. Phil :)
Down to Earth, a tepid reworking of Warren Beatty'sHeaven Can Wait(itself a remake of ... more
1941'sHere Comes Mr. Jordan), tries to mould comedian Chris Rock into an amiable romantic lead, but it softens the scathingly observant humour that made Rock a stand-...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Acclaimed as the funniest man in America, Chris Rock delivers a first-rate performance in ... more
this romantic comedy about a man who gets a second chance at life and love. Struggling black comic Lance Barton (Rock) knows what it's like to die on stage. But w...
Down to Earth, a tepid reworking of Warren Beatty'sHeaven Can Wait(itself a remake of ... more
1941'sHere Comes Mr. Jordan), tries to mould comedian Chris Rock into an amiable romantic lead, but it softens the scathingly observant humour that made Rock a stand-...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Struggling black comic Lance Barton (Rock) knows what it's like to die on stage. But when ... more
his life takes an unexpected turn straight to heaven Lance is sure there's been a mistake. Miraculously he's right! An angel tells Lance he was taken premature...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: some funny jokes, interesting plot, nice romantic angle, Jennifer Coolidge and Greg Germann's double act Disadvantages: a TEENSY bit far-fetched!
Pmshack99 27.01.2005 (27.01.2005)
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Review of Down To Earth (DVD)
![Down To Earth Dvd [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78529177.jpg "Down To Earth Dvd [2001]")
Aug 19th, 2001
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