Down to Earth [Region 2] |  | Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Actors: Chris Rock, Regina King, Chazz Palminteri, Eugene Levy, Frankie Faison
Category: DVD
Buy New: $5.13
as of 3/21/2010 00:40 EDT details
New (3) Used (3) from $4.66
Seller: moviemars
Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 304384
Format: PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), German (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5014437810236
ASIN: B00005NFXB
Theatrical Release Date: February 16, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
A tepid reworking of Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait (itself a remake of 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan), Down to Earth tries to mold comedian Chris Rock into an amiable romantic lead, but it softens the scathingly observant humor that made Rock a standup successor to Richard Pryor. Rock's aggressive style is bracingly expressed in a few good scenes, but through most of this movie--from the directors of American Pie--he struggles with dialogue that would barely pass muster in a low-rated sitcom. Edgy potential loses out to crowd-pleasing with the familiar body-switch formula: by way of premature death and bad timing on the part of heaven's Vegas-styled gatekeepers (played by Eugene Levy and Chazz Palminteri), Rock--as struggling comedian Lance Barton--is reincarnated as a 55-year-old white billionaire with a nasty reputation. Adjusting (too easily) to his racial transition, Lance charms a hospital administrator (Regina King) who's amazed to see the selfish white billionaire turning into romantic philanthropist. This allows plenty of black/white-contrast jokes (did you ever see a fat, middle-aged white guy who's into hip-hop?), and Rock, who cowrote the screenplay, still manages to work some pointed politics into the movie's good-natured tone. It's guaranteed that some will find Down to Earth quite entertaining, but others will wonder how potent this comedy could have been if Rock had been more willing to confront the harsher truths that lurk beneath the humor. --Jeff Shannon
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 51
 Down to Earth February 6, 2010
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
It seems everyone is trying to get into heaven; at least those whose time is up. For Lance Barton, a struggling comedian and bicycle messenger, it's the last thing on his mind. His due date upstairs is 50 years away. In the meantime, he's got big dreams to pursue on Earth, such as landing a slot at the final Amateur Night Contest at the famed Apollo Theatre. Lance's has one little problem though, he ain't that funny. Thanks to an over-cautious emissary from heaven, Mr. Keyes, he's going to get hit literally with a much bigger problem. Showing that even God has difficulty finding good help these days, the inept minion mistakenly plucks Lance from a traffic accident before it takes place. Transporting him to the Pearly Gates, or more accurately, the velvet roped-lines of the hottest club around, the error is finally addressed by Mr. King, the streetwise, no-nonsense head angel who manages the place from his plush windowed office. Since returning to his own body on Earth is impossible, the urban dwelling Lance reluctantly agrees to a normally unthinkable proposal. He'll occupy the body of a wealthy old white mogul, Charles Wellington, until a more suitable body can be found. Strangely enough, in a Park Avenue penthouse, servants and butlers become his new homeys as Lance works on his streetwise comedy routine for the big Apollo showdown. Living in the body of a callous old white man would be bizarre enough for Lance without falling in love with Sontee, the beautiful woman publicly battling Wellington's company at the same time. And if that wasn't enough, he's got to deal with the love affair between Wellington's wife and his personal assistant, and their plot to have him killed. Rock's personality, his drive, his delivery, his demeanor, and his passion are what fuel this movie. He's clearly having a lot of fun in the role, and he seems bent on making sure you have fun watching him.
 Chris Rock can do better than that! June 15, 2009
Khaled Altaher (Riyadh, NA Saudi Arabia)
The movie is quite ordinary. The comedy is also ordinary. I don't remember laughing at all, I just gigled once or twice.
Even the jokes told at the stand up comedy scenes were not that good.
For a comedy movie, it is disappointing.
 Chris Stone More Like It March 27, 2008
Bu-Chan (Aotearoa)
I have to agree with another reviewer and confess that "Down to Earth" is definitely not Chris Rock's best movie. He was much funnier and much better in many other movies, though I would not level the degree of criticism at "Down to Earth" that others have.
First off, the plot is pretty thin, not to mention the fact that it has been flogged like a dead horse even before this movie came out. With some thin changes, the plot still comes of a bit on the weak side. Basically, a well meaning, but failing comedian gets snuffed ten seconds before his impending death on the front of a moving truck. Due to the Angel of Death's merciful mistake, the comedian gets reincarnted into another body: rich, aging, white guy. The antics of this major shift in perspective supply the majority of the gags, some of which are amusing, but hardly gut-wrenching.
This movie is nothing if not predictable, and there are some famous faces whose talents are pretty much squandered in it. After all, it is a romantic comedy, and there is not much to be expected in surprises. In some places, it just comes off as corny, but it does not negatively impact on the movie overall. In the end, one would not choose this for its "surprise factor" and major plot twists.
The humour itself is pretty weak over all, but generally is worth a giggle or two in places. The shock of Charles Wellington coming back to life after his wife and executive killed him was pretty cool as a scene. While none of the humour was really enough to bring tears to the eyes, it was not all that bad. Amusing, but not much more.
All in all, "Down to Earth" is a predictable, safe and amusing romantic comedy. I don't think there are any illusions to greatness here, and it makes a nice little movie to sit down and zone out to. I had a small giggle, but I would not recommend buying it. It is not really worth multiple viewings.
Down to Earth January 29, 2008
Tyler J. Maher (Albuquerque, NM)
This movie I believe is one of the greatest movies that Chris Rock as ever acted in as a comdeian. It's a comedy movie which everyone enjoys with a little romance in it too. Regina King, Chazz Palminteri, Eugene Levy and Frankie Faison were also great in this movie too as well as Wanda Skyes the maid who played Wanda. All of these actors and actresses along with Chris Rock made this movie a must have for evryone.
 Yet Another 'Urban' Version of an already excellent movie. May 4, 2007
WC Alaska (Alaska, USA)
This is a remake of an actually funny, clever, and classy movie called "Heaven Can Wait." Throwing in the urban comedian with the 'updated' script just results in a piece of garbage. You can't turn a class act like Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait into an "urban" version and expect it to be good. What a waste of time, money, and film. Rent the original and see what a true classic this is.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 51
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