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Between a Rock and a Hart Place.
82 Mins. Starring: Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld & Dave Chappelle. Director: Rashidi Natara Harper. On: Netflix.
Imagine reading all about this in your New York Times. Rock. Hart. The Garden. The two kings (or should we say GOATs?) of comedy with a special guest. Like Steve Harvey (what's up, Pops?), D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, and the late, great, dearly departed Bernie Mac. Making Madison Square The Mecca again like when Jay-Z, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, or Prince played here. The house that King's, Ewing's, 'Melo's and Brunson's built. Pearl's and Clyde's. The Eden in this Big Apple you just want to take a bite of. Not to mention the Nets Knickerbocker neighbouring Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where Rock's pops used to work. Although, we would love to see this show live, like the real thing. The streaming service Netflix does the next best thing with their 'Headliners Only' documentary film following their Batiste 'American Symphony' bringing art back to NYC like a Basquiat jersey. Now, in this cancel craving age, if people still don't see that stand-up is art, then it isn't Netflix that is the joke. Like Chappelle shows, Chris Rock had people reciting his bits like lyrics. Now it's Kevin Hart who is Drake to his legendary Jay-Z (he may show up at his Mecca to pay respects too), or Kobe to MJ. For comedy jam, what Jackson is to moonwalking.
Chris Rock himself, an alumnus of SNL, described those he came up with being like X-Men's school of gifted comedians. But no one had it quite like him. The best since Murphy, who passed the torch from Eddie to Dave. But no bridge, his career is far from over. It's like he said, he's not entering the Hall of Fame whilst he can still play. Putting up 25, 8 and 6 assists. Handing nothing to nobody, but more than willing to share the floor with the former Rookie of the Year, whose now an MVP too. Rock to Hart. Heart to Heart, these roc boys in the building are cutting and putting up diamond performances tonight, as they drop more mics than The Source. Your one-stop shop to a guaranteed laugh like Caroline's on Broadway or New York City at 3AM with a two drink minimum. Just look at the greatest of the Apple when it comes to that job, share the stage. Luminaries and peers like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Burr offering hilarious, but also insightful testimonials. Seinfeld perfectly summing it up like the mined beginning of 'There Will Be Blood', better than the time he asked the late, great Larry King if this was still CNN in his defence. Yes, comedy may be silly, but this is serious stuff. And this defining documentary aims to bruise as many ribs as it tickles, pulling no punches.
A slick and sick soundtrack, matched with establishing shots of New York, New York, make this concert behind the scenes film as unforgettable as Nat King Cole. Especially when these three(?) kings wax lyrical about their trust in the process, and how divine comedy can be in all its God laughs tragedy. Offering substance to the New York City streets style of a streaming service film that looks as much as this billion dollar former blockbuster provides, or how much you'd have to ante up for a ticket to one of these sold out shows. And it's all worth that very price of admission, even though you get about as much time on stage as you would if you saw The Sandman on your left like Captain America. No matter though, whether chopping it up in restaurants we also couldn't get a reservation for, or just being funny with the routine stuff they say (like what Rock says about our beloved Boss), this more intimate look of two real influencing, generational greats is inspired. Taking us higher when Cedric and D.L. offer our own individual ignorance, some African proverbs together. And that's the point, rap God Nas (with another classic to set off these proceedings this evening), once said "there can only be one mic, and there can be only one king", but then even he squashed his beef with Jay-Z. But these days you can have more than one GOAT on this Mount Rushmore that would definitely carve their faces like pumpkins, (which back in the day would make a great battle rap). That's something that those looking for that life may need to heed in this history lesson. Especially when 15 minutes have become seconds in this world, as individual as Insta and forgettable as one of their stories with TikTok attention spans. Oh, and to never go to a meeting hungry, you'll find out why when you get your fill by watching these headlines only like the morning papers. Continue watching the throne. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: Chris Rock: 'Selective Outrage', Kevin Hart: 'Zero F###s Given', Kevin Hart: 'Don't F### This Up'.
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