Search - Down to Earth on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Drug Content Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 07/10/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 27 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 42 Genres: Comedy Drama, Romantic Comedy, Heaven-Can-Wait Fantasies

Comic Chris Rock co-scripted and stars in this remake of 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan, which was also remade with Warren Beatty in 1978 as Heaven Can Wait. Comedian Lance Barton (Rock) is struggling to get his career off the ground when he dies in an untimely bus accident; arriving at the Pearly Gates, he discovers that he's not supposed to have passed on for another 50 years. Barton is not happy with this turn of events, and eventually the Powers That Be send his spirit back to Earth, but for the time being he has to make do with the body of a middle-aged, closed-minded millionaire, Charles Wellington. Lance falls in love with a young community activist (Regina King), but he soon finds he has bigger problems at home: the millionaire's wife and her lover are both trying to kill him. The supporting cast includes Mark Addy as an actor passing himself off as an English manservant, Chazz Palminteri as Mr. King, Heaven's no-nonsense manager, and Eugene Levy as Mr. Keyes, the angel who accidentally ends Barton's life. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Chris Rock - Lance Barton
Regina King - Sontee
Chazz Palminteri - King
Eugene Levy - Keyes
Frankie R. Faison - Whitney Daniels

A fairly straightforward release of the Chris Rock vehicle Down to Earth, with only the theatrical trailer (presented in non-anamorphic widescreen) and a promotional featurette provided as extras. The feature is presented in an anamorphic transfer at 1.85:1. The film appears to have been transferred from a pristine print, and it looks excellent, with good balance, solid and detailed blacks, and no apparent artifacts or edge enhancements. The image is nice and sharp and has good contrast. The soundtrack is presented in several formats -- Dolby 5.1, Dolby 2.0 Surround, and French in Dolby 2.0 Surround. The 5.1 track is clean and clear, with good dialogue separation and an excellent deep bass that should work the subwoofer. Surround effects are solid, though not showy. The 2.0 track is considerably more brash, but works well enough. The French track has very good voice casting and good matching. A solid disc, though one aimed squarely at the movie-watching public rather than the collector, which works well enough for this movie. ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide