CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 21, 2021

Tamra Davis' "CB4" (1993) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include new video interview with the director; new video interview with co-writer Nelson George; new audio commentary recorded by critics Alexandra Heller-Nichols and Josh Nelson; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Do you think that Tamra Davis could make another film like CB4 in 2021? I think that even if she used all of her industry contacts such a film would not materialize. But it won’t be Davis’ fault. The particular crowd and sense of humor that are needed for such a film to be made no longer exist. In CB4 Davis gets away with plenty that right at this moment can completely destroy her career, which of course is incredibly sad because it is beyond clear now that a lot has changed for the worse.

What struck me immediately after the opening credits disappeared from my screen was the manner in which the film switched in offensive mode. It was an old-school vile but often very funny assault on everything that is worth targeting, from the macho image that ‘gangsta’ rap promoted during the ‘80s and ‘90s to the various industry hypocrites that exploited its boom to the calculating politicians that immediately went to work to benefit from the inevitable drama that surrounded its biggest stars. This type of an unrestricted assault is impossible to greenlight in 2021 because everything that actually makes it funny -- and believe me, while most of it can be quite rude, it is pretty darn funny -- is now considered ‘offensive’. You can’t shoot a funny mockumentary if you constantly have to check a long list of parties that might find your sense of humor ‘offensive’.

But is CB4 only a funny mockumentary? I am not convinced it was conceived to be only that kind of a silly film. (In case you are wondering, I don’t think it was meant to be a groundbreaking eye-opener either). For example, consider the feud between Chris Rock’s character, MC Gusto, and his rival played by Charlie Murphy. The former is an imposter, the latter is a mad rapper who wants justice of the kind that restores his image. You know what this means, right? It means bullets, blood and pain, almost certainly death as well. Well, just a few years after CB4 was released, 2PAC and Biggie Smalls became mortal enemies and the drama that surrounded their feud was in some ways as ridiculous as the one that is highlighted in the film. Now, here’s the important part about it, which makes CB4 an interesting film -- it does not matter how the feud started and who was right and who was wrong; what matters is that the feud was fueled by a culture that is exactly like the one that is depicted in the film. Rock’s antics could be somewhat deceiving, but plenty that is coming out of his mouth is true. Towards the end of the film, where he goes back to his father and admits that his success has changed his life for the worse and he is desperate to regain his old identity, Rock summarizes perfectly how the industry used and abused him. Is there a way to walk away from it alive? Well, maybe. But what if a star like him becomes as big as 2PAC and Biggie Smalls were?

The best funny material comes from episodes where the two sexes attempt to take advantage of each other. Some of their honesty sounds almost controversial now, but it shouldn’t be because they play the same old game.

The soundtrack is a total winner. It features some rougher tunes by the likes of Run DMC (“King of Rock”), Ice Cube (“Steady Mobbin”), and MC Ren (“Mayday on the Frontline”) as well as softer tunes by LL Cool J (“I Need Love”), Jodeci (“Come and Talk to Me”), and Billy Stewart (“I Do Love You”).

A number of legit stars pop up before the camera to utter a bunch of meaningless lines, including Ice-T, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Flavor Flav. Even a very young Shaquille O'Neal can be spotted.

CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, CB4 arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. Unfortunately, it is a pretty weak master with plenty of familiar limitations. For example, grain can be quite uneven and in many areas actually appears lumpy. In darker areas there is quite a bit of crushing that produces unnatural, often distracting flatness as well. While not problematic, delineation isn't optimal either, while depth is typically quite average. Colors are stable, but they can be healthier and certain nuances and highlights can be better balanced. Image stability is good. A few dark spots and blemishes can be seen, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is very good. There is a lot of music throughout the film that produces plenty of effective dynamic contracts. The bits of actions, however, are unlikely to impress you. The dialog is clear, stable, and easy to follow. There are no technical anomalies to report in our review.

CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for CB4. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Street Cred: Interview with Director Tamra Davis - in this new video interview, Tamra Davis recalls how she was able to make CB4. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Straight Outta Locash: Interview with co-Writer Nelson George - in this new video interview co-writer Nelson George discusses the exact time when CB4 was made, the casting of Chris Rock, the quality of the comedy in the film, and Tamra Davis' reputation and style. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Commentary - new audio commentary recorded by critics Alexandra Heller-Nichols and Josh Nelson.

CB4: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The style of the mockery that produces all of the humor in CB4 won't be everyone's cup of tea. Perhaps it is a bit too loose and cynical, but I just can't see how the film could have been made without it. A more 'civilized' version of it likely would have produced a mockery of a mockery that very few people would have been able to tolerate. As it is, CB4 actually exposes a few very ugly truths about an industry that loves to create stars and then abuse them for as long as they remain in its orbit. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an older and rather shaky master that was supplied by Universal Pictures.