Dave Chappelle's Block Party Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 03.10.2006
The skinny black comic brings laughter and song to the streets of New York.
Featuring:
Dave Chappelle
The Roots
Mos Def
Kanye West
Erykah Badu
The Fugees
Jill Scott
Talib Kweli
Common
Directed by Michel Gondry
Release Date: March 3, 2006
Running Time: 103 minutes
Rated R for language.
Baffling is a word that comes to mind when one ponders the life and times of Dave Chappelle up until this point. This is a man, who at 33 years of age, had reached the summit of his comedic career, and with lightning speed, it basically vanished. My opening paragraph will not be a short biography of Chappelle's life detailing his rise to fame and the sudden controversial turn he took his life on because that would tarnish the quality of this exuberant comedic concert extravaganza. For those who might not read the news or watch Oprah Winfrey, Dave Chappelle walked away from a $50 million deal from Comedy Central. Super stardom was something Dave Chappelle could not handle, and that's fine, even though it might be strange to some. To quote the man himself "It was about taking myself out of a situation I wasn't cool with."
Before Mr. Chappelle made his life-altering decisions, he had a dream of putting together a concert, with free admission to a block party located in an anonymous section of Brooklyn, New York. The audience was compiled of people from Brooklyn of course, and various other parts of the country. The musical talent was comprised of all the groups that Dave Chappelle himself adored, and wished to see together for one special celebration. Through some of the film, Chappelle returns to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio and encounters a wide assortment of people and places, while periodically extending Golden Ticket invitations to some lucky individuals for his block party. He also strolls down the streets of New York to unearth unique strangers that intrigue him enough to join the festivities. And when viewers are not treated to Chappelle's priceless expressions and unprompted pleasantry, the harmonious sounds of artists like Kanye West, Mos Def, and the Fugees grace the stage with the type of hip-hop that is personal, intelligent, and soothing.
Those invited had to register online, and eventually meet in the Chinatown district of Manhattan where they were shipped to the undisclosed location of the show. This was a wise choice by Chappelle to prevent die-hard fans and drunken college kids from crashing the fun. The cast of unidentified characters that were fortunate to obtain an invite from Chappelle matched perfectly with Chappelle's humor to create some memorable experiences. One of the funniest occurred as Chappelle was talking to an older middle-age female storeowner, and she was wondering if she should wear a thong to the rap concert.
This whole shindig went down a little over one month after he officially signed his $50 million deal with Comedy Central. I obviously know nothing about being a celebrity, and even less about being a millionaire, but after contemplating Dave Chappelle's situation, and hearing his side of the story, I know that that life is not for everyone. Maybe he couldn't handle the money. Maybe he couldn't handle the fame. Maybe he couldn't deal with the fact that the public might look at him in a different light. Maybe this block party was a way of showing regular folks that money wasn't everything to him, but one thing is for sure, Dave Chappelle needed a change. Some celebrities handle their money rather well. I have heard of certain actors that don't spend money hardly at all such as Drew Carey or Keanu Reeves. It seems like a life that can beat the hell out you if you let it. Most of us might not fully understand Chappelle's motives, but this film reveals his respect for his fans, and I admire that.
In all honesty, I don't care for sketch comedy, and when Dave Chappelle was at the height of his powers, I really didn't watch his show unless I was parked on a friend's couch that enjoyed it. He was an enormous hit during my college years, and I can remember several peers who owned the Chappelle Show DVD's. Television shows such as MadTV or Saturday Night Live are funny at times, but not enough to sustain my interest each week. If I feel the urge for the comic stylings of Dave Chappelle, I dig up my copy of Half Baked, and watch it.
The majority of Block Party displayed an excellent blend of humor and song, but the final portion of the film was overdosed with music, and the lack of Dave Chappelle during that time was frustrating. Direct Michel Gondry is predominantly graceful as his camera moves along with Chappelle from the streets to the stage, while still maintaining a steady aim on the artists so the music does the talking. This latest project by Gondry is being labeled as a documentary, but that thought never crossed my mind with his practical approach that exposes a tranquil, yet energetic atmosphere. Gondry is no stranger to dealing with musicians, but after his masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, he sensibly alters his camera techniques to correspond with Dave Chappelle, and the homegrown mood he wished to instill to the viewers.
Every facet of the project was covered on screen from the formation to the rehearsal to the show itself, and events afterward. The sequences of Chappelle and Mos Def preparing for the show are terrifically random with casual jokes that would not have cracked a smile with moviegoers had Chappelle not been the man delivering them. Even though the movement and strides that Gondry and Chappelle create are at times as tangled as that annoying knot in one's shoes, that peculiarity develops into an asset for Chappelle and his director. Block Party is quite jumbled with no steady pace, but Dave Chappelle's spontaneity is contagious with rap melodies that sound fabulous.
The 411: Dave Chappelle is a complicated person, but he can still make us laugh, and that’s what counts. Not to mention, his taste in music is good, regardless of your liking for hip-hop. I would have liked some more of his comedy towards the end, but overall, this documentary/film is a great time, and even though Chappelle might have felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders at the time, he appears to be in great spirits, which adds to the enjoyment. This seems like a perfect film to pop in the DVD player during a party, and just let it play. Despite what segment you first start watching, there is nothing vital to miss, so you can laugh and enjoy the music no matter how much or little you have seen.
