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Top Five

Top Five is a 2014 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Rock. Produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush, the film stars Rock, Rosario Dawson, and Gabrielle Union, and follows New York City comedian and film star Andre Allen (Rock), who has to confront his past and comedic career while doing an interview with journalist Chelsea Brown (Dawson).

The ensemble cast features comedians J. B. Smoove, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shephard, Michael Che, Tracy Morgan, Jay Pharoah, Leslie Jones, and Cedric the Entertainer. Comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Whoopi Goldberg appear as fictionalized versions of themselves.

It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States on December 12, 2014, by Paramount Pictures. It received critical acclaim, with praise directed at the performances of the cast, and Rock's screenplay and direction, as well as comparisons to Woody Allen's Stardust Memories (1980).

New York Times reporter Chelsea Brown is spending a day interviewing comedian and recovering alcoholic Andre Allen, star of the hit film franchise Hammy The Bear, about a cop in a bear suit. Chelsea has forgotten her audio recorder, so they first go to her apartment. While there they discuss a magazine article about the Cinderella complex. Chelsea explains that Cinderella left something behind to let the prince know that she wanted to see him again.

Andre is attempting a foray into serious films with Uprize, in which he portrays Haitian Revolution figure Dutty Boukman, and is sensitive to criticism, particularly by Times critic James Nielson, whose previous reviews of his work have been negative and insulting.

As the interview begins in his limousine, Andre recalls his lowest point, when he was in Houston in 2003 and met Jazzy Dee, who supplied him with drugs, alcohol and women. When Jazzy refused to pay them, they contended they were raped, leading to Andre's arrest and subsequent sobriety.

The limo gets hit by a cab, so Andre and Chelsea wander the city. He stops to pick up the rings for his wedding to reality-TV star Erica Long. Following a subtle, tense interaction with Andre assisting an acquaintance who is actually his father, they visit the apartment of his old friends and ex-girlfriend.

Chelsea interviews each, learning that Andre wasn't particularly funny when he started doing stand-up. They nominate their five favorite rappers, including a sixth as well. Andre goes to radio shows such as Opie and Anthony to promote Uprize and attends a press conference with fellow stars Taraji P. Henson and Gabourey Sidibe. To his chagrin, Andre is asked about the next Hammy movie.

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