CB4: Blu-Ray Review

This week, two 90’s comedies from director Tamara Davis arrive on Blu-ray, 1998’s Half Baked and 1993’s CB4. For me CB4 is by far the superior film, which essentially is a sort-of-spoof on the west coast hip-hop group, N.W.A. Because Ice Cube and the late Eazy-E make appearances, you know they were in on the joke.

Albert (Chris Rock) and his friends Euripides (Allen Payne) and Otis (Deezer D) have dreams of being famous rappers. Week after week, they perform at a local club that is the only place in town with an open mic night. The venue is owned by a gangster named Gusto (Charlie Murphy). However, when Gusto gets arrested for drug dealing, he is sent away to prison and Albert has the not-so-bright idea to use his name and reputation to rebrand their group into something that they can sell. Now, Albert and his friends go by the names MC Gusto, Dead Mike and Stab Master Arson and their group is now called CB4 (Short for Cell Block 4).

Things are going great for the group. Their single Straight Outta Locash (spoof of Straight Outta Compton) has hit the top of the music charts and they are now selling out arenas as well. Unfortunately, not only is a politician (Phil Hartman) trying to shut down CB4 due to their bad influence on the youth, but also the real Gusto has broken out of prison, and he intends to destroy the group that is profiting off of his name.

CB4 isn’t a great film, but it definitely was a product of its time that still manages to hold up nearly three decades later.  Rock is hilarious, even more so when he is trying to be hardcore, but fails at it miserably. It saddens me that some of the great talent on display, like Murphy and Hartman are no longer with us, as they passed way too young. If you are a fan of CB4 or even the group that inspired the film, I recommend picking up this release.

Blu-ray Extras:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Joshua Nelson
• STRAIGHT OUTTA LOCASH: Interview with Co-Writer Nelson George
• STREET CRED: Interview with Director Tamra Davis
• CB4 – Trailer
• HALF BAKED – Trailer
• I’M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA – Trailer

By: Marc Ferman