Search - CB4 on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1993 DVD Release: 01/07/2003 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 29 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Comedy, Parody/Spoof, Showbiz Comedy

Comedian Chris Rock stars in this scattershot satire of rap music in the vein of This Is Spinal Tap. This film within a film begins with A. White (Chris Elliot) screening a rough cut of a documentary he has made of the notorious CB4 rap group -- consisting of group leader Albert, also know as MC Gusto (Chris Rock); Otis, also known as Stab Master Arson (Deezer D); and Euripides, also know as Dead Mike (Allen Payne). White charts the course of CB4's success, their superstar status a result of the fact that they are the only gangsta rap group who are, in fact, actual gangsters, coming direct from rap sheets to rap music. They are considered so bad that they even give rapper Ice-T pause: "I thought I was hardcore. But these guys are serious! What am I supposed to do now?" Unfortunately, at the height of their fame, their gangster pose is revealed to be a sham. Albert, Otis, and Euripides turn out to be a bunch of middle-class blacks striking a gangsta facade to look cool. But now they are in trouble. The real Gusto (Charlie Murphy), a neighborhood thug who went to prison on a drug bust, has broken out of jail and is coming for CB4. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Chris Rock - Albert
Allen Payne - Euripides
Deezer D - Otis
Chris Elliott - A. White
Phil Hartman - Virgil Robinson

Tamra Davis directs Chris Rock in the rap comedy CB4, which comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This Universal release is solid and should please fans of the film as well as those unfamiliar with this hip-hop Spinal Tap. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide