CB4 (1993)

Directed By: Tamra Davis 
Written By: Chris Rock, Nelson George & Robert LoCash 
Story By: Chris Rock & Nelson George 
Cinematography By: Karl Walter Lindenlaub 
Editor: Earl Watson 


Cast: Chris Rock, Deezer D, Khandi Alexander, Allen Payne, Rachel True, Phil Hartman, Charlie Murphy, Stoney Jackson, Richard Gant, Art Evans, Lawanda Page, Theresa Randle, Willard E. Pugh, Chris Elliot, J.D. Daniels, Shar Jackson, Vanessa Lee Chester, Shirley Hemphill, Lance Crouther 


A "rapumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't apear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star

The film is Rough around the edges, dated by now but still manages to be funny.

The movie is inspired and funny. The film is especially good at making fun of it's main target the Gangsta rap scene and it’s excess. while it was still going strong. This is more a mainstream and Low budget studio film but not a self aware mockumentary that lends itself to spoof like the movie FEAR OF A BLACK HAT. The funnier and better made of the two films. Though then again I was older by the time I saw the later film and more into hip hop and rap, knowing it's history by that time.

This is where my love of Chris Rock and his comedy began. I had seen him in SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. And remembered him in small roles in movies like BOOMERANG, BEVERLY HILLS COP 2 and NEW JACK CITY. But this film felt like it spoke to my generation. Even as I was too young to Watch it. I still saw it in the theater twice and it's a movie I still watch and return to many times over the years. While not the best made, it still feels fun.

Though there were movies more aimed at me and my age group at the time in particular for urban audiences were the KID n' Play series of movies like CLASS ACT and the HOUSE PARTY movies which were also rated R and while racy. These films also felt inclusive and rebellious. This is also a film that feels compromised to a degree. As it has a coherent storyline, but gets distracted many times and leaves a lot of plot threads dangling. Which it seems like the credits hint at with cut scenes playing during.

Over the years Chris Rock had been a comedian that I can constantly respond to and identify with. He has the subject of a character who has The whole more suburban upbringing but wanting to feel more down and street as that is what sells and selling yourself out as well as your culture. Just as the contrast between his long term girlfriend versus the groupie who is always around Teaching the characters to be themselves over all the gimmicks get have tried over the years to be popular or get noticed.

The film also gives the late Charlie Murphy an iconic role as the villain Gusto. He is menacing and also hilarious and one of the first performances I truly remember him in. The film even has Chris Rock’s his old SNL co-star The late Phil Hartman in a supporting role. Even though race is involved the movie keeps it's focus on African-American characters and culture.

While never the best skit writer this is the beginning of Chris rock's comedic voice more on issues and subjects. It's still not as sharp as it is now. As at times scenes seem to be more parody or episodic skit like ideas interwoven into the story. It allows the cast to be funny and do some of the lifting.

Behind the scenes Nelson George a writer who I am a big fan of who I had not discovered yet. Whose writing is more about being a music and culture critic. As well as now being an accomplished writer and screenwriter these days. He is one of the producers and Co-writer of the screenplay.

The film aspires to be a little more than it is. It starts off by being a comedy though that takes us to the middle of the film. After that the movie loses it's focus until the third act where it figures it needs to ends soon and forces more plot elements introduced earlier into the main fold.

As the film does show the motivation for the characters but then as they are achieving their dream they are pulled into controversy by a politician looking for publicity. While also being on the run from the actual Gangster they are emulating. The problem is that the film leaves many loose ends and only seems to solve a few of the problems.

Most will come to the film for comedy and maybe even a nostalgic look back. I will admit that I am an unbiased fan of this and most Chris Rock movies. I support them eve. As some have been disappointing and more focused on remaking stuff and riffing off of it instead of being original. Here at least he seems off to a good start. This was before he made a comeback with his stand-up special BRING THE PAIN. Though this was after he had left SNL. This seemed like a culmination of his stand-up and comedic voice. That showed thematic ideas behind his comedy then.

The film feels too short but that might be due to cuts and. It too much else to add on as that might have introduced other things that would need to be spread around throughout the film. I wish the movie was longer more of an epic. So that it had time to tie up a bunch of loose threads that are left dangling and tackle some other subjects.

Rachel True cast in another girlfriend role in a budding comedians first lead role in a film they co-wrote (HALF BAKED) and here and even now still looks the same age.

This film lead to a crush and being a fan of actress Khandi Alexander as she looks so drool worthyingly hot in the film. As the ultimate groupie and early model for the mm and finding financial gain from it.

If you remember these days and drone this movie is a test and a great way to look back. If not this movie might not be as strong for you. I can admit I owned the soundtrack to this movie though some parody and at the end a throwback classic to hip hop. There are some songs that are remakes of classic hip hop songs throughout, but most of the music is original. Like the music the movie is very misogynistic. No real strong female voice and when there is quickly becomes more humor and a thorn in the side would expect a little better treatment considering the director is female Tamra Davis.

One of the reasons the film still resonates for me is that I was growing up during that time so it was part of my generations pop culture and at the heart of it. It was one of the first films that felt like it was directed towards me and my generation other the. Being able to identify with it and the lead character.

Learning to be yourself and find your own voice even after being a personality or copying someone else brought you fame. Which is strange because then at the end we find the characters supposedly really rapping but obviously not the actors and they are rapping a classic hip hop song that isn't theirs. This is also implicated early In the film where they lip synch to rap. Think WAYNE'S WORLD with bohemian rhapsody only here the tape deck is messed up in his car so it goes fast one second and slow the next even as they all dress up in the car like RUN DMC, as that is who the tape they are listening to is by, but also when we see their many attempts to rap and get discovered they usually fail because they are trying gimmicks and not really being themselves or truthful at all. It doesn't help that we never really see them write or focus on the writing and rapping part ever. The only time it seems like they actually might have talent individually is in the montage of scenes when they break up and the individual singles released.

I realize this is more a silly comedy, but the message is presented. So that it is more in the background. It is just not really focused upon The film is a movie of it's time. As it came out and partially satirized gangsta rap while it was still around and starting to come upon the end or a new generation of it. While it was dwindling. That was hip but bold and not too late where it would have been more obvious.

This is a kind of classic. One of those films most of my generation remember for better and worse and probably pass it on to another generation. If only as some kind of time capsule.

Grade: B-