MovieChat Forums > Top Five (2014) Discussion > Ripoff of High Fidelity?????

Ripoff of High Fidelity?????

posted 9 years ago by Gittes74
7 replies | jump to latest

Let's start by giving credit where credit is due: Chris Rock gas finally made a movie that's watchable and, at times, even funny. The PR team tried in vain to compare this to "Annie Hall," but we all know that's not the case and most people have forgotten this movie and moved on. Hopefully Rock will return with more.

But am I the only bothered by the "Top Five" theme of the movie and the obvious ripoff of John Cusack in "High Fidelity"? Now THAT is a much funnier and more spot on movie IMO. What does Cusack do for the entire film? He comes up with Top Five lists. Rock comes along and does the same thing.

Next time, I'd like to see Rock try something a bit more original.

[–] jonathanmarklund 9 years ago

According to your logic Ninja Turtles is a ripoff from Rambo because both have headbands on and it has something to do with action.

[–] j-curl 9 years ago

So, by your logic, Bridesmaids is a ripoff of My Best Friends Wedding because they're both about weddings? Wtf is wrong with you?

[–] benman46 9 years ago

Top five lists weren't invented by High Fidelity. Top Five is a bonding game that has been around for years.

[–] lambiepie-2 9 years ago

I've seen High Fidelity and this isn't anything like that.

I find this a more comedic version of Al Pacino's "People I Know" -- and there isn't anything wrong with that. I love films when entertainers go right for the jugular and expose what entertainment is really like because they know, and the whole production crew is also in on the joke (And secretly thinking, "I'm glad they did it, I would never have the guts!"

There will be tons of stories, this one, was incredibly entertaining, somewhat right on with the area (made me homesick, really), and hit all the right chords by mixing comedy with the truth.

Great Hotel. Really convenient to the mouth of Hell.- MST3K.

[–] Savybones 8 years ago

I caught a different "rip off" that stood out, when he stands up and says "lower your expectations" that's a huge bit (and song) from a guy a lot of people in the US haven't seen, David O'Doherty look him up on youtube.

It did fit though in the scene.

OH SPOILER ALERT!

[–] Howlin Wolf 8 years ago

There's a lot more to BOTH movies than just Top Fives, and even "High Fidelity" didn't invent the idea of lists and ranking things! It's only a ripoff if a central idea is duplicated, not an aside. I don't remember the main character in "High Fidelity" being famous or getting close to a journalist... So no; definitely not!



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] Prelude (1443) 6 years ago

If anything, it felt like a more raucous homage to "Before Sunrise" Aside from several lifestyle scenes, it was at heart a "walking and talking" movie along the lines of Linklater, and I liked it for that.