CB4
A film review by James Berardinelli
Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli
Date Released: 3/12/93 Running Length: 1:28 Rated: R (Language, sexual situations)
Starring: Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Deezer D, Charlie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Chris Elliot Director: Tamra Davis Producer: Nelson George Screenplay: Chris Rock, Nelson George, and Robert LoCash Music: John Barnes Released by Universal Pictures
Albert, alias MC Gusto (Chris Rock); Otis, also known as Stab Master Arson (Deezer D); and Euripides, or Dead Mike (Allen Payne), make up the rap group known as Cell Block 4, or CB4. Adored by America's youth, despised by the righteous right (as personified by Phil Hartman), and hated by Gusto (Charlie Murphy), a man who believes CB 4's success came at his expense, the rap group quickly climbs to the top of Billboard's charts.
As a series of frequently-amusing vignettes, CB4 is enjoyable. However, when everything is tied together into a cohesive whole, this movie is a colossal mess. The connecting pieces, especially the involvement of Charlie Murphy's villain, are worthless and serve only to muddle the pace of an otherwise- entertaining series of Saturday Night Live- type sketches.
Satire and parody are heavily in evidence in CB4. Right-wing politicians, which make such ripe targets for movies such as this, aren't the only ones that get barbecued. Rap music is as much made fun of as it is lauded. Prominent black figures such as Spike Lee are given a knock or two. In addition, there are dozens of more subtle jabs at elements of black and white culture. Keep your eyes open of you'll miss some of these, many of which represent the most sophisticated that CB4's comedy gets.
Admittedly, much of the humor is juvenile, and, as such, too silly to be particularly funny, but there are enough moments of more refined comedy to keep just about anyone involved. Chris Rock's performance is film is about as uneven as the film's humor. In some scenes, he's completely out of place while in others, his energy carries the movie. Deezer D has absolutely no memorable moments. Allen Payne is the most consistent of the three leads, partially because his character is a walking parody. His rendition of "I'm Black" is on-target and very funny.
CB4 has something to offend just about everyone. It gives the impression of being misogynistic, although the attitude is more a part of the story than a genuine reflection of the film-makers' views (the director, GUNCRAZY's Tamra Davis, is a woman). Members of the moral majority (those few who see this film) will be suitably annoyed, as will those who belong to some of the more militant black groups that are so clearly parodied within CB4.
Not too much of CB4 is memorable or ground-breaking. In some ways, the film is a cross between WAYNE'S WORLD and THIS IS SPINAL TAP, although its brand of comedy and wit owes more to the former than the latter. CB4 is nowhere as incisive or as clever as SPINAL TAP, even though it clearly aspires to make the connection early on with the documentary film by A. White (Chris Elliot). In the final analysis, this is an example of a light film that's good for a few laughs. It can be watched without becoming an endurance contest, and, when it's over, the audience can go home and forget about it. Not a stunning recommendation, to be sure, but CB4 will deliver for those who go to it with modest expectations.
Rating: 6.8 (C+, **)
- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)
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