Down to Earth (2001 film)

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. It received generally negative reviews from critics and grossed $71 million.

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 Heaven, where he meets the angels, King and Keyes, who reveal that Lance has been taken before his time, and though his body had been destroyed by the truck, they can help Lance return to Earth. After sorting through many bodies, they find Charles Wellington III, an extremely rich businessman freshly drowned in his tub by his wife and assistant, Winston Sklar. Lance is reluctant until he discovers that Sontee, the woman he saw before his death, is protesting Charles by handcuffing herself to a coffee table in his penthouse, demanding Charles' presence. Seeing this as a chance to get to know her, Lance makes a deal with King to temporarily lend Charles' body until a more suitable body is found. Soon after, Charles returns from death, but with the witty soul of Lance inside him. Everyone except for the angels and him sees him as the middle-aged, rich, white Charles.

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 philanthropist, including giving the maid Wanda a raise. Despite recent events, Lance continues to follow his comedy dreams through Charles, contacting his old manager Whitney and convincing him that he is Lance reincarnated. Through many humorous moments and issues, he gets Sontee to fall in love with him.

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)

Critical response
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.

Box office
Down to Earth grossed $64.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $7 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $71.2 million.

The film made $17.3 million its opening weekend, finishing in second. It then made $11.2 million the following weekend, remaining in second place.

Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on 20 February 2001 by Sony Music Entertainment. It peaked at 71 on the Billboard 200 and 64 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.