Click to read the article
Down to Earth (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:29
Fresh:7
Rotten:22
Average Rating:3.9/10
Consensus: A toned down Chris Rock fails to bring a limp script to life as the movie moves from one gag to the next.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language, sexual humor and some drug references
Runtime: 87 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Feb 16, 2001 Wide
Box Office: $63,095,559
Synopsis: Comedian Chris Rock updates 1978's HEAVEN CAN WAIT with a decidedly modern flair in this romantic comedy. Lance Barton (Rock) is a struggling comedian whose dream is to perform at New York City's... Comedian Chris Rock updates 1978's HEAVEN CAN WAIT with a decidedly modern flair in this romantic comedy. Lance Barton (Rock) is a struggling comedian whose dream is to perform at New York City's legendary Apollo Theater before it closes its doors forever. One night, while riding his bike, Lance is crushed by an enormous truck. Before he can come to terms with what has happened, he is strolling through Heaven, talking to the smooth Mr. King (Chazz Palminteri) and the bumbling Keyes (Eugene Levy), the angel who prematurely snatched Lance away from Earth. Mr. King agrees to make up for this mistake by returning Lance to New York, only instead of being a black bike messenger, Lance is now Mr. Wellington, a powerful white businessman who just so happens to be the enemy of Sontee (Regina King), the woman he has become infatuated with. Wooing Sontee with a new commitment to using Mr. Wellington's money philanthropically, Lance embarks on a mission to perform at the Apollo, even if he doesn't seem to fit the mold. But just when everything begins to fall into place, Mr. King returns to throw another glitch into Lance's plans. Coasting along on the charm of Rock and King, DOWN TO EARTH is a charming story about the power of fate, set to a bouncing hip-hop soundtrack. [More]
Starring: Chris Rock, Regina King, Mark Addy, Eugene Levy
Starring: Chris Rock, Regina King, Mark Addy, Eugene Levy, Frankie R. Faison, Greg Germann, Jennifer Coolidge, Chazz Palminteri
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Screenwriter: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Lance Crouther, Ali Leroi, Louis C. K.
Producer: Sean Daniel, Michael Rotenberg, James Jacks, Barry Berg
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Get This Movie
Reviews for Down to Earth
When Rock finds his authentic swing as an actor as well as a comedian, he'll be, like, a movie god.
Almost every minute of Down to Earth is entertaining. But not quite surprising.
A ham-handed fantasy that manages the damn near impossible feat of making Chris Rock unfunny.
It's pretty consistently funny, if far generations removed from anything original.
Heaven can wait and so can the audience for the new Chris Rock comedy ever to catch fire.
Doesn't feel fat or padded, like so many contemporary comedies, and its very leanness is appealing.
This medium-octane farce is neither as uproarious as its star and set-up promise nor as inept as every other studio picture released in recent weeks.
Unfortunately, a lot of the potential for humor is wasted because the movie audience can't see what the people around Lance magically see.
As funny as he is on a concert stage, and as smart as his humor sometimes was on his recently ended HBO show, the man can't act.
By midpoint in the movie, you feel somewhat left out of the central joke. You feel as if the characters are in on the fun of the payoff, but not the audience.
Latest News for Down to Earth
March 19, 2007:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: "300" Reigns Again as Box Office King
Three new competitors were no match this weekend for the mighty action epic "300," which easily defended its box office crown to rule North American theaters for a... More...
March 15, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: "Premonition" Leads New Pics into Battle Against "300"
Though a highly-paid and well-liked star, Sandra Bullock has never been a big pull on opening weekend for her films. Now the actress hopes to reach a career high with her new... More...
April 20, 2006:
Critical Consensus: A Weak "Sentinel," So-So "Dreamz" Are Made Of This, "Silent Hill" Not Screened
This week at the movies we've got a Secret Service agent on a mission ("The Sentinel"), an "American Idol"- skewering political satire ("American... More...
February 24, 2006:
Chris Weitz Getting Into the "Game"
Comedy director Chris Weitz has signed on to helm "The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists" for Columbia Pictures, a project based on a popular New... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Down to Earth at Rotten Tomatoes
- Down to Earth at IGN
- Down to Earth at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



