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Movies / On DVD / Down to Earth
Down to Earth

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Down to Earth (2001)

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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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Release:

Dec 4, 2001

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Reviews for Down to Earth

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61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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No offense, Chris, put could you please just keep bringing us the pain? We get plenty of sap elsewhere.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
02/16/01
Tor Thorsen
Tor Thorsen
Reel.com

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.

Full Review Source: Ottawa Citizen | comment Comment
02/16/01
Jay Stone
Jay Stone
Ottawa Citizen

A mediocre Chris Rock vehicle.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
02/16/01
Philip Booth
Philip Booth
Orlando Weekly

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.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
02/16/01
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

Contains the germ of a great movie, but it's quickly over, and then we're back to the dogs.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
02/16/01
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian

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.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
02/16/01
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Mildly amusing.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
02/16/01
Elvis Mitchell
Elvis Mitchell
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unfortunately, a lot of the potential for humor is wasted because the movie audience can't see what the people around Lance magically see.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment 1 Comment
02/16/01
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
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A feeble effort that feels interminable even at a lean 86 minutes.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/16/01
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Chris Rock shares a great deal with his character in Down to Earth and that's not necessarily a good thing.

Full Review Source: Calgary Sun | comment Comment
02/16/01
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Calgary Sun

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.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
02/16/01
Liz Braun
Liz Braun
Jam! Movies

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.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
02/16/01
Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
02/16/01
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Down to Earth feels like a movie placed in a cage by studio suits, the better for draining all daring and creativity.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
02/16/01
Chris Vognar
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Besides being a bad idea, Down to Earth is ineptly staged.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
02/16/01
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

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.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
02/16/01
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Citysearch

Dead in the water.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
02/16/01
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A disastrous effort to establish the popular comic as a leading man.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
02/16/01
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

Down to Earth is a little too shipshape, too eager to please, not quite as anarchic as the best comedies.

comment Comment
02/16/01
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

How many times is this story gonna be reincarnated?

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
02/16/01
E! Online
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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