Chris Rock Americanizes 'Death at a Funeral'

CHRIS ROCK doesn't view the world in black and white, especially when it comes to comedy.
"I come from the same line as Richard (Pryor), Eddie (Murphy) and (Bill) Cosby," says the veteran funnyman. "But I'm also a descendant of George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield. When I was a kid, I didn't think of Rodney Dangerfield as a funny white guy. We just saw him as a funny guy."
The same goes for his movies. Rock doesn't see his remake of the 2007 British comedy "Death at a Funeral" as a "black" comedy. It's simply a comedy. If there's any label to be put on it, it's an American comedy, he says.

"When you define it as a 'black comedy,' it somehow lessens it, makes it smaller," he says. "I think we've made an American family comedy, even though it's rated R. It's got a big, great cast, black and white. All the people that aren't in a Tyler Perry movie right now are in this movie."
The 45-year-old saw the original "Death at a Funeral," directed by Frank Oz ("Bowfinger"), at an art house theater. He recalls the audience was fairly small -- maybe 12 people -- but they appeared to enjoy the irreverent comedy.
"People were laughing their (behinds) off," recalls Rock, "and to me that said: This is a pop movie. I just thought the jokes would work in America."
The comedian and actor figures he was probably the "only black man in America" who saw the movie, which earned a paltry $8.5 million at the box office in the United States. Savvy to the current enthusiasm for ensemble comedies like "Pineapple Express," "The Hangover" and "Valentine's Day," Rock saw potential in the source material.
"A lot of things are collaborations," observes the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member. "They're not doing a lot of one-guy comedies right now. I thought the fact that ('Death at a Funeral') had a lot of funny parts was perfect for me. I didn't want to have to carry the whole movie."
Rock's instincts were on target. He quickly got Sony Pictures on board, and he recruited filmmaker-playwright Neil LaBute, with whom he had collaborated on the 2000 dark comedy "Nurse Betty," to helm the remake.
He called up his old friend Martin Lawrence, who had opened for him on a stand-up gig years ago, to join the cast. He credits Lawrence as "the only comedian to blow me off the stage." Also joining the ensemble were "30 Rock" and fellow "SNL" alum Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover, Luke Wilson, Loretta Devine, Keith David, Regina Hall, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana and Peter Dinklage, who reprises the role he played in the original.
Rock worked with the original movie's writer, Dean Craig, on adapting the script to give it an American voice and sense of humor.

“Whatever they had in their hair, that’s what I had in my hair”, Chris Rock

“I’m not saying anything about that I’m not saying anything about Kanye (West) and end up on some rap album somewhere,” said Chris Rock laughing during an on stage interview at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday afternoon. And with that, he launched into a mini-rap, “‘I got money, Chris Rock aint funny…’ There are just too many things that rhyme with ‘Rock,’” he snapped. The Kanye topic came up at a packed auditorium in Toronto which turned out to see the comedian who is here supporting his doc, “Good Hair” and an audience member asked him what he thought about rapper Kanye West’s behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards over the weekend.
But Rock didn’t demure over a range of topics spanning politics, Michael Moore, the Obamas and even the Jacksons (who get a bit of a verbal beating) during the hour-long conversation hosted by TIFF documentary programmer Thom Powers as part of the festival’s Maverick series. But it was hair, or specifically, the culture and economics behind black women’s hair, that took center stage. The genesis of his doc, which is screening as a Special Presentation at the festival, began when Rock’s young daughter asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” And in a style reminiscent of a Michael Moore film, Rock mixes humor and investigative journalism to explore the topic, from hair salons to laboratories and even the international trade in Indian and Korean hair, which form a cornerstone of a vast industry in which individuals pay thousands of dollars to maintain a perfect coiffe.
“Before the Obamas, the Jacksons were the first black family in America,” said Rock. “Whatever they had in their hair, that’s what I had in my hair growing up.” Chris Rock said he believed it was in the ‘70s when blacks in America were “finally free,” and it was reflected in their hair. Afros bounced proudly as African Americans turned away from the heavy product and relaxers embodied by Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Junior. Rock laughed, recalling how he was the first black kid in his school growing up. “It was, you know - shitty,” he said of his days at school.
But, turning back to the Jacksons, Chris Rock had no problem tearing in on late pop star Michael Jackson.
“Poor Michael - I wonder if they have hair care products in Heaven, er - or in Hell, or whatever…,” he said, then turning to Powers seated with him on stage, “You know, I think they make him do shows in Heaven, and then they send him back to Hell.”
Though he was a fan of the Jacksons growing up, he clearly has gained their ire now that he’s famous, and with lines like that, it’s probably not surprising. “I met Michael once. He just glared at me… And I’ve met Janet, and she just glared at me… Back when I was a kid, if anyone had told me that one day the Jacksons will want to kick my ass, I would’ve said, ‘You’re crazy!’”
Rock reserved compliments, however, for filmmaker Michael Moore who also was in Toronto promoting his new film “Capitalism: A Love Story.”
“I’ve always been a big fan of Michael Moore ever since I saw ‘Roger & Me’ 20 years ago,” said Rock. “I thought, this is funny and smart.” He said the style of filmmaking prompted him back then to consider “Good Hair,” but docs had not hit their stride yet, so he shelved the idea until his daughter brought up the topic years later and Moore and others’ success in documentary prompted him to reconsider.
“At the time [of the idea] Michael Moore was new, there was no ‘Borat’ and I was barely known, but now I have two daughters and I see their hair issues, so the idea came back. It’s a funny thing about hair. Li’l Kim and Michell Obama have nothing in common, but if you just say ‘hair,’ they’ll talk for two hours.” The comedian, who hosted the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, went on to say that he thinks this is his funniest movie to date even though it’s only PG-13 and mostly void of his typically sexually charged and expletive-laced stand up.
“This isn’t a topic about anything controversial it’s hair!”

Chris Rock Madagascar 2 Interview

CHRIS ROCKS ON IN MADAGASCAR 2. Chris Rock, Madagascar 2 Interview by Paul Fischer. Chris Rock has established himself as a major comic force for over a decade. Returning frequently to his stand-up roots, Rock is also hoping that change comes to America come election day. Returning to movie screens in the new Madagascar sequel, Chris Rock, who rarely does interviews with the priont media, chatted to Paul Fischer about comedy, acting and politics.

Paul Fischer: What was the most important thing about doing this second movie?

Chris Rock: It was getting back with Ben. We had fallen out and I just thought ....


Paul Fischer: Is he as good as they say?

Chris Rock: He's better than they say.


Paul Fischer: Do you censor yourself when you're doing it?

Chris Rock: It is weird because I don't really curse that much off stage. I throw a couple out there from time to time, but when I'm offstage I don't - yeah it's weird. When I get up there it's "f**k, f**k, f**k, f**k, f**k." It is kind of what the people want though.


Paul Fischer: They expect that from you.

Chris Rock: Yeah, it is a weird thing.


Paul Fischer: Cursing....

Chris Rock: It is not my "thing." I try to write some jokes in between the "f**k, f**k, f**ks." Sometimes my daughters are at gymnastics and people are commenting on how I'm not cursing. Like I would be cursing at gymnastics. "So what's up mother f**ker?" Like that's how they expect me to be.

Paul Fischer: Now on Madagascar, you had one day in the studio working with Ben. How was your one day together? How freeing was that?

Chris Rock: It felt different. He's a funny guy. Ben's funny. We are the same age and we have a lot of similarities in our lives so it wasn't this big thing having to overcome. It wasn't like two guys having to be overly polite to each other.


Paul Fischer: You all had back stories this time. Did you like this turn in the script that we got to know you more as individuals?

Chris Rock: I think this is a better movie than the first one. We know the characters and now its let's make a great story. The first one felt like the pilot and sometimes the pilot is clunky because you've got to get all these people in and all this information. Now we are just doing episodes.


Paul Fischer: Jada mentioned the third one might be in India. What do you think?

Chris Rock: India, the Bollywood version of "Move It, Move It."


Paul Fischer: Do you want to direct anything soon?

Chris Rock: I'm trying to get through this year without doing it, but you never know.


Paul Fischer: Can you talk about what you are going to do on Nov. 5 if Obama wins.

Chris Rock: If he wins - you are always going to make fun of the president no matter what. You are a comedian, like "Oh black brother, I can't tell jokes about this guy." I loved Bill Clinton and I love Bill Clinton to this day, but when he slipped I was right there.


Paul Fischer: If Obama slips would you take him out?

Chris Rock: I'll take him out [laughs].


Paul Fischer: How optimistic are you about the election?

Chris Rock: I wouldn't be shocked if you we don't know who the president is the night of the election. I wouldn't be shocked.


Paul Fischer: You recently had a very good special on HBO with some very interesting editing choices between two different performances. How did that come about?Chris Rock: It was actually Rick Rubin's idea. He called me up one day, paged me actually, and said "you should do your special in three or four countries and cut them as one." That was it. I kind of thought it was crazy the first time I read it and then about three weeks later it was getting to that point that HBO was like "Want to do a special?" and I needed something to motivate me, because just doing it isn't enough motivation. So it was like what could be different? Stand up can get so boring, we've seen the guy in front of the camera, the guy in front of the screen, whatever. I just needed a chance to fail, something to excite me and that idea definitely excited me.


Paul Fischer: Why return to stand up? Is it because that's where your roots are?

Chris Rock: It is because that's what I do, if I was an actor in the theater I'm sure I would return to that from time to time. I'm a stand up comedian and the other things I get to do because I'm a stand up comedian. I just like doing it.


Paul Fischer: Has your sense of humor changed as you've gotten older and now have a family?

Chris Rock: I don't know. I've changed. I try to take breaks in between so I don't - I never want to be one of those guys who is always doing gigs, there is a staleness to that. Like you're in Vegas every week and you know the guy's going to be there. I try to take breaks. I haven't don it in - Zara was - my wife was pregnant with Zara so I hadn't done it in four years. It is almost like I got all the jokes I could out of that guy. Let me go become another guy and then I will tell some more jokes.


Paul Fischer: Was it a different process for you knowing you were going to be taping it like this - were you onstage thinking, "F**ck I didn't say it the same way"?

Chris Rock: No, it was weird. Early on in the tour it was like, "Wow, people laugh at the same things in every country." I couldn't believe it. Lightening struck. Everything worked out.

Chris Rock - The Great Legend Comedian

Chris Rock is not only famous for his comedy nature in the United States but also all over the world. Chris rock comedy we cannot forget or cannot take out from the history because the history of comedy cannot survive without the legend Chris Rock. His comedy typically involves race relations in the United States, although he devotes a large portion of his material to women. Though not directly based on it, a lot of his comedic views are rooted in his teen years; his very strict parents, concerned about the neighborhood schools had him bussed to an almost all-white high school in Bensonhurst (a white-ethnic neighborhood of Brooklyn that ironically was known at the time for poor race relations). In the fall of 2005, UPN is going to premiere a sitcom called Everyone Hates Chris that is based on Rock's high school days.