It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Down to Earth (2001): Dir: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz / Cast: Chris Rock, Regina King, Chazz Palminteri, Eugene Levy, Mark Addy: Lifeless comedy about bringing down to reality one's standards of living. If one's standards of living regarded viewing this film then living standards went down. Remake of Heaven Can Wait, Chris Rock plays a struggling comedian who dreams of presenting an act at the Apollo nightclub. Upon being hit by a truck he is sent to Heaven but informed that he was taken ahead of his time. They send him back in the body of a white rich man who is not very well liked. He learns that there are plans to murder him. He also falls in love with Regina King who is struggling to keep a hospital opened. Directors Chris and Paul Weitz previously made the much funnier American Pie but this garbage is a major step down and adds none of intelligence of their sexual high school romp. Their handling of the black man white man image of the hero is poorly portrayed. We are given glimpses of the white guy but he is never well established as a character. Rock is reciting his comedy act right from the standard setup right up to his eventual relationship with King. Her function is to be the love interest and nothing more. Chazz Palminteri and Eugene Levy are wasted in flat roles. Heavenly aspects fail because God doesn't make mistakes. No, the mistakes are made by the filmmakers. Score: 2 / 10

Chris Rock, apparently desperate for a cozy star-vehicle which would cross his appeal over to white and mainstream black audiences, updates the hit 1978 comedy "Heaven Can Wait" with an urban agenda. He plays a struggling comedian involved in a car accident who has his soul removed too soon from his body--consequently, his angels must find another body to place him in, and can only come up with that of a white businessman. Rewriting a movie as bland and sentimental as "Heaven Can Wait" only shows that Rock's eye was on the box-office (this was strictly a corporate move organized by the most mercenary of Hollywood players). Why not strive for something loftier or more memorable than a silly reincarnation comedy that culminates with an Evening at the Apollo? Terrific supporting cast (including the usually-reliable Regina King, the wonderful Mark Addy, Wanda Sykes, Eugene Levy, and terrific Frankie Faison) do what they can, but Rock seems awkward and unsure of himself throughout. *1/2 from ****

This is the third version of Harry Segall's play Heaven Can Wait. It was first made into the movie Here Comes Mr. Jordan in 1941. Warren Beatty and Ealine may reworked it into Heaven Can Wait in 1978. Now, Chris Rock and company take their script and make this film as a starring vehicle for him.It really doesn't matter whether it is Robert Montgomery or Warren Beatty or Chris Rock in the title role. The story is solid and it is interesting no matter which version tickles your funny bone.Both Montgomery and Beatty were nominated for Oscars for their work in their respective films. Beatty was also nominated for Best Director and the film itself was nominated for Best Picture. Mr Jordan earned an Oscar for Harry Seagall's story and for the screenplay by Sidney Buchman and Seton I. Miller. It also received Best Picture and best Director nominations. The story has a long history. Unfortunately, the only award for this version is an Image nomination for Regina King (Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, Ray) as the women Rock was in love with.Beside Chris Rock, who I think is the funniest comedian out there, and King, we also see Chazz Paminteri (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, The Usual Suspects) as "St. Peter": Eugene Levy (A Mighty Wind, Best in Show) as the bumbling assistant; Jennifer Coolidge (A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration) as the adulterous, murdering wife; Mark Addy (The Full Monty) as the butler; and many more.It was directed by Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy).I don't know why this version didn't click like the other two. Maybe they should have waited a few more years so we would not compare it to the 1978 version. It was worth watching for the story, which never gets old, and the characters. Check it out.

Down to Earth is about Lance Barton, a black comedian who gets hit by a truck. He goes to Heaven and he gets to get another body. Lance gets the body of Charles Wellington, a white guy. So Lance does a few things in the body of Charles. The movie has a few laughs, but it's nothing special. It's a good movie if you're a fan of Chris Rock. Madagascar, the 2005 animated comedy, is better. This is a good movie, but Chris Rock has done way better things than this. It will only make you laugh about 4 times the whole movie. And it's not really laugh-out-loud funny. You'll laugh to yourself and you might giggle, but you definitely won't be rolling on the floor laughing.