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The Movie: I'd first noticed Dave Chappelle when many others probably first did, in films like "Nutty Professor" and "Con Air". The hyperactive comedian seemed to always be processing the situation, and the way that Chappelle delivered (and still delivers) dialogue in his sharp burst style and distinct voice rarely resulted in anything less than big laughs. His odd, lightning fast reactions also made Chappelle a terrific actor for others to play off of. Chappelle proved he could be the lead in the very funny cult hit "Half Baked" and even in throwaway junk like "Screwed", Chappelle is still a riot. "Killin' Them Softly", a concert film released in 2000, showed that Chappelle was not only a strong comedic actor, but an outstanding stand-up comedian that was capable of commanding the stage and, as a result, the audience's attention. It was in 2003 that "Chappelle's Show" first aired on Comedy Central and became a phenomenon. A couple of years later, Chappelle had an incredble contract and was headed towards a third season of the series and then...nothing. The comedian went on a highly-publicized retreat, and although rumors of some completed new episodes persist, no new Chappelle's Show episodes appear to be coming. But, before turning this into "Dave Chappelle: Behind the Comedy", this review is actually about the comedian's latest stand-up performance on DVD, "For What It's Worth". The special, which aired on Showtime and was nominated for two Emmy Awards, sees Chappelle mostly working at his peak. I say mostly, largely because of the first bit, which has Chappelle discussing being "held up" by a homeless man on a bus in San Francisco. The bit goes on too long, and isn't very funny. Towards the end of it, Chappelle even seems to be throwing it together as he goes along. After the opening chunk, the performance starts gaining steam when Chappelle talks about visiting a group of Native Americans in New Mexico. There's also an amusing bit where Chappelle visits Disneyworld and even Mickey Mouse is pestering the comedian, quoting lines from "Chappelle's Show". Chappelle also talks about celebrities, joking about how he thinks Pepsi tastes better cause "they're the one who paid me most recently." In terms of celebs, Chappelle also goes after R. Kelly (although Chappelle's parody of R. Kelly's videos on his show was funnier) and the Michael Jackson trial. Overall, "For What It's Worth" definitely has some hilarious bits, but it takes a little while to get going. For fans of the series, it's quite funny at times and a nice addition to the collection. The DVD VIDEO: "For What It's Worth" is presented by Columbia/Tristar in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The presentation quality is first-rate, as the picture looked consistently sharp and detailed. No edge enhancement or pixelation was present in the image, but some minor shimmering and a little bit of grain did appear. SOUND: The Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation is a good, solid concert effort, with the audience in the surrounds and Chappelle's performance in front. Overall a nice, enveloping presentation that offers the material well. EXTRAS: The only extra is several minutes of Chappelle doing some of the same bits in front of smaller audience - practicing for the big performance. Final Thoughts: "For What It's Worth" is a little uneven at times, but it's a mostly amusing and occasionally downright hilarious performance. The DVD presentation offers very good audio/video, along with a minor (but fun) supplement. Recommended for fans. |