CB4 (1993)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Tamra Davis

Writers (WGA):

Chris Rock (story) &
Nelson George (story) ...

Release Date:

12 March 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Sex, Rhymes and keepin' it real.

Plot:

A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4"...

Plot Keywords:

Rap Music | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym | Jheri Curl Hairstyle | Acronym In Title | Fictional Band

Cast

Chris Rock	...	Albert / MC Gusto
Allen Payne	...	Euripides / Dead Mike
Deezer D	...	Otis / Stab Master Arson
Chris Elliott	...	A. White
Phil Hartman	...	Virgil Robinson
Charles Q. Murphy	...	Gusto
Khandi Alexander	...	Sissy
Art Evans	...	Albert Sr.
Theresa Randle	...	Eve
Willard E. Pugh	...	Trustus
Ty Granderson Jones	...	40 Dog (as Tyrone Granderson Jones)
Rachel True	...	Daliha
Victor Wilson	...	Lt. Davenport
Richard Gant	...	Baa Baa Ack
J.D. Daniels	...	Ben

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Panorama City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

At the end of the movie, there is a scene in which 'Rock, Chris' haggles idiotically with Isaac Hayes. This is a spoof of a similar conversation between the same two actors in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), in which Chris Rock played a customer at Isaac Hayes' rib joint.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ben sees the tour bus coming, he puts his cap on twice.

Quotes:

Euripides: Did you know a black man invented ice cream?
Albert: No, no, no. Now how the hell a black man gonna invent ice cream in hot-ass Africa? Tell me that!

Movie Connections:

References "The Jeffersons" (1975)

Soundtrack:

The Nocturnal is in the House

Rapumentary gone horribly wrong... produced by A. White

This is by far one of Chris Rock's best works to date, and it's his first starring role! This movie has tons of talent, a tight plot (okay - you need a good ability to suspend your disbelief), and a palpable message.

It quickly became something of an underground classic as the early 90s launched the careers of many gangster rap artists. This movie does a great job of parodying the rise and fall of a gangster rap group.

It's got a unique urban flavor and is loaded with perhaps more race-driven humor than others may think necessary (many many MANY racial stereotypes are exploited in this movie, such as a local restaurant called "Big Ass Biscuit" where the young rappers frequented). However, it's done in a very tongue-in-cheek manner and the overall effect is hilarious, not heinous.

The addition to the cast of Chris Elliot playing the role of "A. White", the rapumentary's director, is brilliant. Elliot is great at playing a white fanboy who lands the job of working for his new favorite rap group, and he fumbles through the movie as only Chris Elliot can.

Phil Hartman is equally funny as Virgil Robinson, a local politician who tries to use CB4's profanity as his new platform for re-election (meanwhile, his son is addicted to CB4's music and image). The interaction between Virgil and his son in this manner represents how many parents viewed rap music as their children began to listen to it.

This movie is laden with parodies too numerous to list. The soundtrack is also quite good (if you like rap music at all) and includes the song "Sweat of my Balls" - a song featured in the movie (also hysterical, complete with a stage show of large testicles being dropped from the ceiling onto the crowd).

If you aren't easily offended, this movie is VERY entertaining. If you are able to look beyond the veneer of racial overtones and profanity, it also has a few points to make about the origins of "fake" gangster rap groups and their image.

Look for underrated performances by Tyrone Granderson Jones as "40 Dog", Richard Gant as "Baa Baa Ack" and Charles Q. Murphy as "Gusto".

I CAN'T WAIT for this to be released on DVD - if it ever will be...