'Premature Reincarnation' - Thats about as funny as it gets!!! (Down to Earth (DVD))

Member Name: ross1979

Product:	Down to Earth (DVD)
Date:	31/07/01 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some amusing scenes

Disadvantages: Old Story, No Great acting

This mildly amusing comedy is based on an old idea. A not-so-bright individual is killed and brought back to earth in a new body. Since the idea is from 1947 (the 1947 sequel to 'Here comes Mr. Jordan' was called 'Down to Earth'), you get the impression that they could come up with something better.

Chris Rock plays Lance Burton, who is an aspiring comedian who is so bad that he has the nickname Boo-ey, which refers to what audiences do when he hits the stage at the Apollo.

The opening scene is Lance waiting to go onstage at the Apollo (it is his dream to be a hit there). He is forced to listen backstage to a group of very funny performers and then goes on stage himself and, you guessed it, gets booed off again.

After this, he dies in a road accident and is transported to heaven, which is a surreal nightclub! There are even bouncers on the door to keep out those who are not wanted.

Lance feels he has been cheated out of his life and that it is not his turn to die yet. So he takes his case to the head man, Mr. King (Chazz Palminteri), and finds out that he was right and he wasnt due to arrive. Oh, and did I mention that this angel-type thing is also a gangster?

Lance is determined to meet his lifetime goal of making the audience laugh at the Apollo, and he comes back to earth in the body of a 50s wealthy white man called Wellington. He is on the wrong side of Sontee (Regina King) who doesnt want him to close down the Brooklyn hospital he owns.

While Lance looks and sounds like himself to King and the viewers, he appears as the podgy white politician to everyone else. This is where the mildly amusing scenes start, with Wellington jamming to Snoop Doggy Dog amongst other things. He is also funny trying to charm Sontee, using his young wit which is very out of place coming from Wellington.

But, despite this, dont expect to be rolling about laughing w
ith this film. It can only be described as amusing in places, with some very thin patches. Rock is not the best actor in the world, although he pulls off the stand up scenes fairly well and has the undoubted ability to make people laugh.

In summary, its an old idea, its not particularly well done, and it wont be the funniest film you see all year. But it is easy viewing and there isnt much to choose from at the big screen at the moment!!!

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