Prismark10
What Spinal Tap did to heavy rock, CB4 does to rap in the 1990s and it was about time.Chris Rock is Albert, a decent guy who along with his friends want to hit the big time as rappers. They try every gimmick to break into showbiz. Albert inadvertently gets mixed up with a local hoodlum, Gusto getting arrested and decides to adopt his hard core gangster identity, MC Gusto and the group becomes CB4. They eventually raise the ire of conservative politicians but the record buying public love them but Gusto breaks out of prison and wants to get even.The film succeeds because it makes pointed and prescient digs at gangsta rap and some of the songs they parody are actually very good and reflective of the music of the early 1990s.The story is not the strongest, the satire always not sharp or even hits the target but the Rock and the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying the ride and real rappers turn up as to be in on the joke.
bobert34
I am writing this review upon seeing the move, CB4, for the third time. Even after watching this film twice, I still managed to laugh my way through 99% of the jokes. This movie showcases Chris Rock's unique and funny blend of black comedy which was still relatively unknown in his immediate post-SNL period of his career. The jokes are fast and fresh, and come one after another and still manage to get chuckles out of the audience. CB4 follows such films as Spinal Tap, in using the mockumentary style. CB4 provides a documentary for a rap group headed by Albert, Chris Rock. Rock's already established views on black culture fit in very well in his role as a middle class black man pretending to be a gangsta rapper. The supporting cast of Allen Payne and Deezer D as Euripides and Otis respectively, provide great personas for Rock to joke off of. The movie climaxes in a typical Chris Rock humorous way and leaves the audience feeling satisfied and happy. The movie is also enhanced by some killer cameos in the beginning by such rapping stars as, Shaq(during his ill-fated rapping days), Ice-T, Ice-Cube, and some other famous rappers. In a nutshell: I am only waiting for this film to be released on DVD so I can watch it over and over again.
DunnDeeDaGreat
CB4 is clearly Chris Rock's funniest film. The film is a right on target of hip hop culture. The film has many scenes including one in a restaurant called Big Ass Biscut and and the funeral scene. Look for Eddie Murphy's brother Charlie in a funny role as Gusto.
gondee
This movie is one of my favorite satirical comedies right up there with Airplane...that's right, up there with the big 'A'. The group member's names are perfect (Dead Mike and Stabmaster Arson particularly). The satirical rap songs in the movie are so well-written (parodies of old-school hits) that it's easy to finish watching this movie and find yourself humming the songs. Of course, this movie has its share of sex jokes (Rip as a phone sex operator and Chris Rock sleeping with the big-haired groupie are a hoot) and lewd language (warning: f-word some 78 times).Go into the movie with a eye towards lambasting the rap industry and you should get some good laughs. Remember this was made still EARLY in Chris Rock's career, the humor in this is not as fine-tuned as some of his newer stuff. I've heard Chris Rock thinks of this movie as his "one bad movie", but if you know even a little about the rap industry, you'll love it. 7.5 outta 10.
AD
