Chris Rock's "Top Five" has already been compared to "Annie Hall," so no pressure. The forthcoming comedy, which Paramount picked up after it premiered to strong praise during the Toronto International Film Festival, focuses on Andre Allen (Rock), a popular comedian who hopes to win respect from audiences with a new drama following his starring role in the lucrative "Hammy the Bear" trilogy. (The garbage pail of lowest-common-denominator Hollywood bunk is about a police bear; his catchphrase: "It's Hammy time.")
"I don't feel like doing funny movies anymore. I don't feel funny," Rock as Allen says in the first "Top Five" trailer. The irony there is that "Top Five," which Rock also wrote and directed, is super funny. It's also smart, timely and stuffed to the gills with stars: Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, J.B. Smoove, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Cedric the Entertainer, Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan, among others. Jay Z and Kanye West are co-producers. "Top Five" is out in limited release on Dec. 5 before a nationwide bow on Dec. 12.
