TODAY is D-day for Chris Rock.”Down to Earth,” the potty-mouthed comic’s first starring vehicle, opens nationwide and its performance at the box office will largely determine whether he can step into the ring with the likes of Martin Lawrence and Jim Carrey.
Last year, Rock quit HBO’s five-year-old “The Chris Rock Show” to focus on his movie career, which, so far, has consisted of well-received smaller roles in “New Jack City,” “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Dogma” and “Nurse Betty.”
Rock knows full well how important this flick is to his movie future, and he’s been heavily hyping it, appearing on Jay Leno, David Letterman – even “Oprah.”
Yesterday, he admitted on the Howard Stern radio show that “Down to Earth” was a “make or break” film for him.
“I get bonuses if this movie does well, like I get bonuses on my fee for the next one if this one makes money,” said Rock, who starts filming the buddy actioner “Black Sheep” with Anthony Hopkins in three weeks.
“You got a low-ball figure right now for what I’ll make for the next movie. If [‘Down to Earth’] makes $100 million – knock on wood, please God let it – bonuses will kick in.”
Rock’s film faces its most serious competition from “Hannibal,” which opened to a $58 million take last weekend. The comedian told Stern he’s hoping his film will come in at least second at the box office this weekend.
While “Down to Earth” is tracking well with preview audiences, Rock said, “It’s not tracking to beat ‘Hannibal.’ ‘Hannibal’s a monster.”
The Emmys and Grammys Rock has accumulated attest to his talent as a stand-up, but his first attempt to appeal to mainstream movie-goers in a leading role is opening to lukewarm reviews.
The consensus among critics is that the charisma and edge that make him one of the funniest guys around have been made bland for the PG-13 remake, which Rock also co-wrote and executive produced.
Still, Rock’s movie career is on fast-forward. He already has three movies in the can: “Pootie Tang,” based on the incoherent sketch character from his HBO show; “Osmosis Jones,” an animated feature by the Farrelly brothers; and he reteams with “Dogma” director Kevin Smith for “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.”