Heaven Sent

• Directed by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz\n• Starring Chris Rock, Eugene Levy, Regina King\n• Rated PG-13\n• Now playing at ShowPlace East 11\nIt is a story that is vaguely familiar. Through the power of the supernatural, a man returns to Earth in another body to live again. "Down To Earth" is based on Warren Beatty's 1978 movie "Heaven Can Wait" and stars the heavenly funny Chris Rock. But the edginess of the original story is lost by giving in to the studio mentality of having everything work out just fine. \nChris Rock is Lance Barton, a bike messenger who is killed by a truck while he is staring at the girl of his dreams. He is also an aspiring comic who dreams of wowing the Apollo. In true Apollo fashion, he is nicknamed "Booey" and his heckled off the stage on every amateur night. He ascends to heaven with the aid of an angel (Eugene Levy). There he meets Mr. King (Chazz Palminteri), who by an accident does not have a place for him. Lance then is offered to take the body of a rich white older male, Charles Wellington. He agrees because he sees that the girl of his dreams, Suntee (Regina King), has business with Wellington. Although Lance can see his true self when he looks in the mirror, everyone else sees an older white male.\nThe premise is hilarious: Chris Rock as an old white man, what great jokes! But Rock is at his best uncensored, and with a PG-13 rating, the jokes cannot be that wild. But for a family film, there is a large amount of profanity.\nIn his new powerful and stinking rich body, Rock "descends to staff levels," as his computer-tracking device notes, and tries to buddy up with his staff members.\nIf you are familiar with Chris Rock's now defunct HBO show, you will remember the actress Wanda Sykes. As Wanda the maid, she steals the film. Eventually Wellington wins over his staff members, and Wanda begins dusting the house in a mink coat, dripping with diamonds. Wellington also wins over Suntee by saving a hospital in Brooklyn that services those without insurance. In one of the funnier scenes, Rock addresses the board of the hospital in a hilarious tirade where he comments, "You shot in the head, we got a bed." \nThose scenes are few and far between. The Apollo is a nice medium to showcase Rock's genius standup act and comedic timing, but the film lacks an original and sharp story. From the beginning the plot line is obvious and sappy at times. Even if you are a big Chris Rock fan, as I am, you are certain to be disappointed. He would be better serviced in an R rated film where he has true artistic freedom.