Good Lord! It's one crappy picture after another. In the past couple of weeks I've been subjected to trash like Head Over Heels, The Wedding Planner and Valentine. I hoped that Chris Rock would be able elevate a movie out of this horrible funk. Unfortunately, this remake of Heaven Can Wait (which is a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan), isn't able to cash in on the considerable wit and talent of Rock.

In Down to Earth, Rock plays a stand up comic (go figure) who wants nothing more to make it in the field he loves. His plans are cut short when he is hit by a bus. Due to an error committed by angel Eugene Levy, Rock is given another chance at life. Of course there is a catch. Rock must inhabit the body of a white business tycoon with a horrible reputation. What follows is a typical fish out of water story in which Rock must alter people's perception of his new identity. This leaves the plot open for all too obvious situations.

The film was directed by Chris and Paul Weitz (the team that brought us American Pie). In a lighthearted way, they try to touch on themes that were dealt with in stronger fashion in Warren Beatty's brilliant Bulworth. The problem with Down to Earth is that I never bought half of the scenarios that Rock is plunged into. Most notably, the romance with Regina King. It just seems absurd. In Bulworth, you have a much more realistic chemistry between Beatty and Halle Berry. And if Heaven Can Wait, the chemistry between Beatty and Julie Christie was Oscar worthy.

Down to Earth is full of moments that just don't hold water. To top that off, this picture isn't funny. Last year, Rock seemed to be headed in the right direction with his turn as a cynical hitman in Nurse Betty. Here, he finds himself in an unfunny hole that he can't seem to get out of. Chazz Palminteri shows up as a sort of manager of the afterlife, and even he can't breathe life into this dull, disjointed, ill conceived disaster of a remake.

On an uplifting note, Down to Earth clocks in at a mere eighty-seven minutes, but it's a long eighty-seven minutes. It should also be noted that I enjoyed the Crocodile Dundee in L.A. trailer that preceded the movie more that Down to Earth itself. That's pathetic. You know what's really sad? I have yet to see Sweet November or Saving Silverman. I've heard nothing but bad things about both of those pictures. I sure hope that movies get better. If things continue as they are, I welcome this big strike I keep hearing about.