Reel Critics: Chris Rock rocks in ‘Top Five’

In his third directorial feature, Chris Rock’s “Top Five” can be described as topical, tender, raunchy, smart and funny. Like his standup act, the humor can be explicit, but the observations are always on target.

In a story not dissimilar to this year’s “Birdman,” Rock plays Andre Allen, a superstar comedian best known for playing Hammy the Bear in a successful string of movies. Now sober, he is “tired of being funny” and wants to be a serious actor.

But it’s hard to take his new film about a Haitian uprising seriously just days before he’s to be married to a big reality star (Gabrielle Union) on Bravo TV. Reluctantly, Andre agrees to be interviewed by the New York Times’ Chelsea Brown (a terrific Rosario Dawson) about his life.

Much of the film is taken up by their forthright, and sometimes thought-provoking, conversations as Andre goes about his Manhattan day. He and Chelsea display an easy chemistry that makes them a joy to watch, and they share some outrageously funny stories (as seen through flashbacks) that are not for prudes.

The sprinkling of well-known comedians throughout the film will make you feel as if you’re eavesdropping on real conversations.

What surprised me was the verbal and visual commentary on people, relationships and current events that Rock casually drops along the way, and how he slowly builds a mild comedy into something darker, even romantic.

“Top Five” may just be the movie Chris Rock was born to write. It is well done, with barely a misstep, and is definitely in my top five of the year to enjoy again and again.

Susanne Perez

`The Hobbit’ fable is long-winded

The final installment of Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth series is here in all of its magnificent, overblown glory. It could be called “The Hobbit 3” or “Lord of the Rings 6.” But the overly long title of this overly long movie is “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

It turns out to be three armies too many.

The warring factions of humans, dwarfs, elves, orcs and goblins are more numerous than ever. Swarms of giant bats, eagles and war beasts add to the combatant list. But together their colossal numbers provide ample opportunity for the bloated battle scenes and clanking swordplay Jackson requires.

Thankfully, there’s still some magic and mystery left. Cate Blanchett glows as the Elf Queen Galadriel. She joins with Ian McKellen, as the wizard Gandalf, to help maintain the mystical side of Tolkien’s original story. Martin Freeman adds some depth and insight to his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins.

Tension between long-running characters keeps things interesting. Of course, the CGI special effects are resplendent, as always. At 2 1/2 hours, there’s more than enough to please diehard fans of this franchise.

John Depko