Que Tal mis amigos, Harry here with a look at the Chris Rock starrer... DOWN TO EARTH. Now I'm a big big fan of Don Ameche and Warren Beatty's versions of HEAVEN CAN WAIT... but I have to say I'm beginning to look forward to this film... After watching NURSE BETTY and sitting back in joy at the performance Chris Rock gave there, or his comedy or his turn in NEW JACK CITY... He's been emerging for quite some time here... and Mean Mr Mustard here believes this is the film that'll make him bankable. We'll see... beware of slight spoilers...
Hey, Mean Mr. Mustard here:
I just saw a test screening tonight at Paramount studios of the new film by Chris and Paul Weitz of American Pie fame. It stars Chris Rock, who CO-wrote the script for the film and it's called "Down to Earth."...
Now it was a typical test screening...I could be admitted as long as I didn't work for the entertainment industry or a was a film student (guess what...I lied! suckers) and the document that I had to sign saying that I would not discuss the film with anyone, esp. through websites. (guess what again....suckers)
Anyway, on to the film. Wile not perfect, it will still be a huge hit when released. Trust me, this is the film that will finally move Chris Rock from the supporting roles he does so well (Lethal Weapon 3, Dogma) to a star ALA Edie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. And on top of that, Rock also surprised me because he can actually pass himself off extremely well as a romantic lead, which is something that Murphy and Lawrence have yet to do successfully.
Down to Earth is basically a remake of that Warren Betty film from the 70's, Heaven Can Wait but it's been years since I saw that film, so the premise acutely seemed fresh to me, as it will to it's core audience.
Rock plays Lance Barton, a struggling African American NY stand up comedian who meets the girl of his dreams, Santee (Regina King) then is involved in an accident that sends him to heaven. In heaven, Lance meets King (Chazz Palminteri), who is 2nd in command of heaven next to you know who, and Keys (Eugine Levy), who is Kings henchman. It turns out that Keys screwed up and Lance was not due in heaven for another 40 years. So to make things better, King sends Lance back to a living being, but the catch is that he has to take over the body of an elderly white millionaire who has just been murdered. But when Lance realizes that the millionaire, who owned a bunch of hospitals in the city, has a connection with Santee, who is a Human Rights Worker who wants reforms in the city hospitals, well Lance is thrilled at his new opportunity to woo Santee.
Now I know what your thinking...How long is Rock actually on screen for. Throughout the whole film. You see, Lance always sees himself in the old man, so everything is filmed from Lance's (Rock's) POV. It sounds more confusing than it is, but trust me, it works.
Again, this film should make Rock a star, and the other standout was Levy, who like in American Pie walks away with every scene he's in.
As for the Weitz brothers, applause should be given to them for doing something different and not doing American Pie 2 or another teen film. Now for the real spoiler...there is no shock gross out scene in Down to Earth...no humping the pie, drinking the spiked beer with seamen, online striptease, or any nudity for that matter. The Weitz brothers have toned down and delivered what I expect to be a PG or PG-13 film. As for their direction, they have improved since American Pie, for Down To Earth is a tighter and faster passed film...and the opening credit sequence is actually amazing, the best that I've seen in a wile.
The only week part was that the jokes were on and off...some worked very well, some didn't at all, but they still made me laugh out loud at times.
So when is it coming out...I have no idea. I remember reading in Entertainment Weekly that it was supposed to come out this summer. I guess it got held and it will probably released sometime next year. Anyway, in the end run I was entertained, and it was actually funnier than Big Mama's House or Nutty Professor 2...but it still was not a funny as American Pie.
