Down to Earth (2001 film)
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| Down to Earth | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Richard Crudo |
| Edited by | Priscilla Nedd-Friendly |
| Music by | Jamshied Sharifi |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million[3] |
| Box office | $71.2 million[2] |
Down to Earth is a 2001 American fantasy comedy film directed by Chris and Paul Weitz and written by Chris Rock, Lance Crouther, Ali LeRoi and Louis C.K. It is a remake of the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait, which is based on the 1938 stage play of the same name by Harry Segall. The film stars Chris Rock as Lance Barton, a comedian who is killed before his time on Earth is through. He is given another chance to continue his life, but in the body of a rich middle-aged white man.
The film was released on February 16, 2001, and grossed $71 million against its $30 million budget.
Plot
Lance Barton is a struggling comedian who is quite funny and confident in his personality, but is unable to bring his talent across in front of an audience. After being booed off stage one night, he hears about an opportunity from his manager, Whitney Daniels at the Apollo Theater, which is having a farewell show due to its imminent closing. He is hoping to get a chance to prove himself in front of a real audience, when on his way home riding a bike, Lance is distracted by Sontee Jenkins. He is hit by a truck and is instantly killed.
Lance is brought up to
Although Charles was unpopular in the past, the public and those closest to Charles start to notice a change in his personality. He transforms from a snobbish billionaire to a
All too soon, Charles is murdered by a hired assassin. Fulfilling the deal Lance and King set up earlier, King and Keyes then send Lance to return yet again to Earth as Joe Guy, a great comedian and more acceptable candidate, who will die in a car accident. Joe returns from this accident unscathed, now with Lance's soul.
After pulling off a successful performance at the Apollo and reconnecting with Whitney, King and Keyes inform Lance that after their current conversation, he will not remember them or his past lives, but his personality will remain. After they leave, he reconnects with Whitney again, and proceeds to get Sontee to fall in love with him again, after meeting her in the theater for the first time as Joe Guy.
Cast
- Chris Rock as Lance Barton
- Regina King as Sontee Jenkins
- Mark Addy as Cisco
- Eugene Levy as Keyes
- Frankie Faison as Whitney Daniels
- Greg Germann as Winston Sklar
- Jennifer Coolidge as Mrs. Wellington
- Chazz Palminteri as King
- Wanda Sykes as Wanda
- John Cho as Phil Quon
- Mario Joyner as Apollo M.C.
- Arnold Pinnock as Joe Guy
- Brian Rhodes as Charles Wellington III
- Telma Hopkins as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
- Mustafa Shakir as Doorman (uncredited)
Reception
On
Box office
The film grossed $64.2 million in the United States, plus $7 million outside the US, for a combined gross of $71.2 million.[2]
Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on 20 February 2001 by
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Down to Earth (2001)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Down to Earth (2001)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Down to Earth (2001) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- ^ "Down to Earth". Rotten Tomatoes. 16 February 2001. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Down to Earth". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
External links
Quotations related to Down to Earth (2001 film) at Wikiquote- Down to Earth at IMDb
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