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In Short: Wonderfully sharp, funny performance captured on DVD. The Movie: Although Chris Rock has recently made a fine acting career with strong roles in films like "Lethal Weapon 4" and "Dogma", his original talents were in stand-up comedy. "Bigger and Blacker" is the second stand-up showcase that has been brought to DVD by HBO, the first being Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You For The Last Time. Although I've seen some of this show and some of Rock's own television show, which airs on HBO as well, nothing could prepare me for how funny or sharp the material he offers here is. Going through material about relationships, violence, president Clinton and social issues had me laughing throughout. Rock's also an amazing performer, with an almost endless supply of energy and an "in-your-face" style that's entertaining. One word of advice, though: if you're not a fan of four-letter words, you'll probably not like this performance - it's a hurricane of cursing. I still thought it was hilarious, though. The DVD edition is also quite good, with a lively dolby surround track that is certainly more energetic than the one that was on Seinfeld's DVD. Every line from Rock comes through loud and clear and the audio creates a really convincing concert atmosphere. Audience applause is definitely heard loud and clear throughout, but it doesn't get in the way or distract from the performance. The picture is full-frame, since I believe this was originally broadcast on television. The picture is good; a clear, colorful image with only a couple of traces of artifacts here and there, but certainly nothing distracting. The DVD includes a couple of basic extras; a trailer for "The Best Of The Chris Rock Show" and a text bio of Rock. It would have been nice for an interview or two to be included, but the show itself was funny enough for me to already be pleased with the DVD. If you're a fan of Rock, even as an actor, I recommend checking out his stand-up performance on this DVD, which is incredibly funny. HBO has also priced this DVD nicely, at $19.99 retail, which means you can find it for cheaper at most retail outlets or online. And if you're looking for more Rock, "The Best Of The Chris Rock" show is also on DVD. Rating: B+ |