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Movies / On DVD / CB4
CB4

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CB4 (1993)

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61 %
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Reviews Counted:18

Fresh:11

Rotten:7

Average Rating:6/10

Runtime: 89 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Chris Rock stars in this rap version of THIS IS SPINAL TAP as Albert, a suburban wannabe rap star who, along with two friends, has tried everything to break into the music business. However, when... Chris Rock stars in this rap version of THIS IS SPINAL TAP as Albert, a suburban wannabe rap star who, along with two friends, has tried everything to break into the music business. However, when Albert is mistakes for an undercover cop by a nasty thug named Murphy, he adopts the newly incarcerated Murphy's persona and christens his rap group CB4, after Murphy's cell block address. Vowing to glorify violence and disparage women, CB4 are quickly signed to a lucrative record contract. Soon, the band is selling out concerts, and attracts a nerdy documentary filmmaker (Elliott) to chronicle their rise to the top of the charts among the protests of outraged parents and politicians. Fitfully funny and possessing a fine cast of SNL alums as well as cameos from real life rappers like Flavor Flav, Ice Cube, and Ice-T, CB4 is an excellent spoof of the rap music industry. [More]

Starring: Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Deezer D, Phil Hartman

Starring: Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Deezer D, Phil Hartman, Arthur Evans, Theresa Randle, Chris Elliott, Willard Pugh, Khandi Alexander, Rachel True, Richard Gant, J.D. Daniels, Isaac Hayes, Stoney Jackson, Tommy Davidson

Director: Tamra Davis

Director: Tamra Davis

[See More Credits]

Reviews for CB4

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1 - 19 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Partly scripted by Nelson George, the premier authority on hip hop, the film is not without moments of insight, and there are certainly enough gross-out gags to keep you watching.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/20/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In parts it is hugely, monstrously funny.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Stephen Garrett
Stephen Garrett
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Torn between celebration and sendup, CB4 misses its big target as often as it hits.

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
03/31/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

CB4 just isn't too funny, and one gets the feeling that the filmmakers themselves lacked the resolve or coherence of vision to mock rap in any effective fashion.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/17/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An amusing look at the early days of the gangsta rappers.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Brad Laidman
Brad Laidman
Film Threat

No review available.

comment Comment
08/08/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

CB4 promises sharper satire than it actually delivers.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
09/07/04
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One of the first movies to parody gangsta rap, it does so knowingly and affectionately.

comment Comment
05/19/04
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

No review available.

comment Comment
02/22/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A muddled but often funny rap satire.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/02/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/03/03
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

Resolutely lame in all the wrong places, CB4 is nowhere near the witty satire it purports to be.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
07/06/03
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

No review available.

comment Comment
01/23/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A fast-paced and frequently hilarious spoof of the old-school rap world.

comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

Though CB4 starts out as a fairly amusing rap variation of This is Spinal Tap! it quickly sinks into a raunchy, sexist series of off-the-wall gags that go nowhere.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

If your mood is loose and profane, if you speak hip-hop (or you just like hearing it) and if you think Rock is funny (he is), you'll be glad you checked this out.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

There's an unexpected innocence mixed in here that helps to blunt the pointed raunchiness (and political incorrectness) of the subject.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post

As a series of ocasionally-amusing vignettes, CB4 is is fitfully entertaining. However, when everything is tied together into a cohesive whole, this movie is a colossal mess.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
 
 
1 - 19 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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