Chris Rock finds cinematic form with easily his best film as a writer and director, and brings a slew of big name pals along for the ride. While you could draw some parallels with Rock's career, the comedian has always remained world class on stage; but big screen success, to the level expected, has thus far eluded him.
Rock is movie star Andre Allen, an actor best known for the cop comedy franchise 'Hammy The Bear', but who desperately wants to be taken seriously. His latest drama is looking likely to be an expensive flop, so he's tasked with doing all the press he can to make it work; this includes a long form interview with smart journalist Chelsea Brown (an engaging Dawson), as she spends an entire day with Andre in an attempt to go deeper. Meeting his friends, family and generally shooting the shit, what Chelsea really wants to know why the former stand up great simply stopped being funny.
Playing close to real time, Rock seems to really thrive in the more intimate surroundings of character driven comedy. Obviously sensing that something this low key may not play huge with the masses looking for cheap belly laughs, he places big names sporadically to beef up the trailer (Kevin Hart, Adam Sandler and Jerry Seinfeld). While those names appear in what amounts to nothing more than a scene or two, Rock wants your focus purely on Andre and the effortless sparks he shares with Dawson's Chelsea.
Where the film goes a smidge array is Andre's make believe world; while the core relationship plays beautifully and even the supporting players somewhat credible, the film's within the film are tonally too outlandish. Rock's comedic sensibility obviously went for the funniest angle, but it sits a little off with everything else.
Granted, that's a small criticism in an otherwise very enjoyable, indie feeling comedy/drama. Rock may have just hit his stride as a filmmaker.
