Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

tnrcooper It's always difficult to do a hard-hitting parody of anything. One needs to have knowledge of a topic as well as a general affection for it. If you hate a topic, your distaste for the topic will come out in cruel jokes and that is not good for the target audience for parodies which is often fans of the material which was parodied. They will not want to see parodies which are mean-spirited. If you like a topic, you won't make a mean-spirited parody. Your affection for your topic will be clear in the movie you make.This film is very funny in portraying the hypocrisy of family values politicians such as senate candidate Robinson(Phil Hartman) condemning gangsta rap for political gain while his kid Ben (J.D. Daniels) idolizes the group and has plastered his wall's room with posters of the group. It's also excellent in establishing that the group has not come up from poverty but actually has suburban roots. None of the characters (portrayed by Chris Rock, Deezer D, and Allen Payne) have fought their way into this business opportunity from poverty. All have seen a business opportunity or a musical opportunity but they have not made themselves out of nothing, another trope the music industry has not shrunk from.The earnestness of documentary filmmaker A. White (Chris Elliott) is also funny - the earnest desire to depict of a white man to treat rap and rappers with respect is also mocked hilariously by Elliott's nebbishness. The depiction of rap groupie Sissy is hilariously parodied by Khandi Alexander in over-the-top excess. Alexander shreds the promiscuity of the super-groupie with her over-the-top depiction. Gusto as depicted by Charlie Murphy is also hilarious. Murphy tears into the role of a truly bad man who serves as a club owner but who also deals drugs on the side. The willingess of MC Gusto and his crew to appropriate Gusto's name to promote an image of toughness is also a good method to allow the mens' true toughness to be revealed.I think if anything, this film's middle section could have been developed more into a harsher, more acerbic treatment of the hypocrisy of politicians, the disingenuousness of the would-be gangsta-rappers, and of the over-the-top obscenity which often seems so gratuitous that it loses its ability to shock. Screenwriters Nelson George and Chris Rock, if anything, understated the acidity of their idea. The ability of gangsta rap to withstand barbed, extended parody is greater than the parody they have made here. The segment in which the group goes on tour could have been longer and Robinson's hypocrisy could have withstood a lot more parody also. All in all, this is a good film which could have been a great film.

scobbah I've heard various stories about CB4, so finally I had the conclusion that I just have to see this piece. CB4 covers all my funny prejudices about the gangsterrap culture, and starts out with a small crew who wants to end up like rap stars - it's all about the beat and the attitude! Chris Rock just plays his role like a mad man, so good and so real! I just laughed the whole time this piece rolled in the VCR, and these scenes who are shooting parody of the gangsterculture just takes home the first prize award - it's too much of the good stuff! It has a good point after all, and when the ending credits roll I felt that this was a true piece of acting - funny and creative as it does not follow any other film formula I've yet seen so far. 7/10!

rutiz i have only seen this movie once, back in 1993 in NYC when it first come out. since then, i have heard nothing! it's not on amazon or any other on-line video shop (if you know otherwise, please post the address and let me know!), and i can still remember it so clearly.as so many others here have already mentioned, the "sweat of my balls" and "straight outta lokash" are the high points, along with a funny sex scene i remember when our hero says something like "i ain't goin' down there!!"if anyone knows where i can lay my hands on a copy, PLEASE let me know!

nailed-3 This movie is a classic. I had wanted to see it when I was younger, but of course I wasn't allowed to. I saw this a few months ago and it was even better now. This is one of Chris Rock's best performances, he nails the role of a rapper perfectly (not to mention his costume...). The movie was one of the first to feature parody raps and they are great, considering this film was Pre-Insane Clown Posse and the like. "Sweat from my balls" still makes me laugh every time I hear it.Some might say this does not transfer to the new rap school, but It definitely does. If you were once a fan of oldschool rap or are still a fan of rap, this movie is definitely worth checking out.