No offense, Chris, put could you please just keep bringing us the pain? We get plenty of sap elsewhere.
Down to Earth (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:94
Fresh:18
Rotten:76
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
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Reviews for Down to Earth
Down To Earth is mostly a slapdash effort, racing through time-tested material as if it can't wait to show off Rock's routines at the climax.
At its best, Down to Earth is pleasant, relatively inoffensive vehicle for Rock, who, at least, proves that he can 'carry' a movie. But next time, please, no remakes.
Contains the germ of a great movie, but it's quickly over, and then we're back to the dogs.
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.
Chris Rock shares a great deal with his character in Down to Earth and that's not necessarily a good thing.
It's not that the material isn't funny, it's that the material, which may well be hilarious to somebody else, seems foreign to this viewer.
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.
Down to Earth feels like a movie placed in a cage by studio suits, the better for draining all daring and creativity.
The romantic side of the story is de-emphasized in favor of Rock's constant patter, which seems to include entire bits from his nightclub routines.
Down to Earth is a little too shipshape, too eager to please, not quite as anarchic as the best comedies.
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