Comedian Chris Tucker has blamed his five-year absence from Hollywood on a lack of quality roles, insisting the projects he received offers for were all too similar to his hit Rush Hour franchise.

The actor, who made his name as a funnyman, was last seen on the big screen in 2007's Rush Hour 3 and he admits it took him a while to find the "perfect" film in which to make his movie comeback - because so much of what he was being offered was garbage.

He tells the New York Post, "The scripts I was getting didn't connect with me. Some were action, and I did that with the Rush Hours. I wanted something different and challenging. It was me saying, 'This needs to be perfect.'"

Tucker is returning to Hollywood with a part in director David O. Russell's critically acclaimed new drama Silver Linings Playbook, and he admits working with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro has whet his appetite for more dramatic roles.

He says, "I know I'm capable of doing serious movies. I did Dead Presidents in '95. I want people to see more of that. They haven't seen enough of my serious, dramatic side."

However, Tucker has no plans to quit comedy altogether - he has continued to perform stand-up shows across the U.S. and is currently keeping fans laughing on his Guess Who's Back Tour.