STAND-UP REVIEW: DAVE CHAPPELLE - THE DREAMER

3.5/5

The Dreamer, The Believer. 

56 Mins. Starring: Dave Chappelle. Director: Stan Lathan. On: Netflix.

Still 'Killing Them Softly' with his mic-drop song, like The Fugees reuniting at his 'Block Party', Dave Chappelle returns to the stage of his first San Francisco special an almost Kobe 24 years later, to show just how far he's come (his other San Fran special in 2004 is a classic too, 'For What It's Worth'). Back then, the former 'Def Comedy Jam' star with the pizza delivery sketch had to offer tickets outside to get asses in seats. Nowadays, any of his Morgan Freeman narrated stand-up shows on Netflix drum up enough controversy to make them the biggest drops of the year on a streaming service that in the last few months have boasted new material from both Ricky Gervais ('Armageddon') and another from Trevor Noah ('Where Was I?'). Netflix is a joke, but still, some people still don't get it.

'The Closer' still hasn't left the conversation. And that's a shame, when it's '8.45' that we should really still be talking about for what its message means. For some fans, the green and red of the classic 'C' logo on this N service is enough to get us excited at just how much of an icon he is. However, after the 'Closer' fallout we all seem to be living in a reactionary world, where our over-cooked hot takes seem to be more important than what is really trying to be said as we all end up punching down on all sorts of people. We live in a  social media prison that is more concerned about being first and offended, than nuanced and true. Yes, 'The Closer' was at times a misguided misfire, but Chappelle was trying to say more. All that seems to be diluted into the white noise of reels and such things we can never scroll past. The algorithm has everybody messed up, Dave included, as we're all making this the hot button issue and not the material itself. After all, IT'S JUST A F#####G JOKE! Until we keep that punchline and back and forth going like a Will Smith slap, that also gets taken to task here...AGAIN. Although at least Chappelle, as a 'Headliners Only' friend of Chris Rock, had his own courtside seat to this 'Selective Outrage'...and his own incident which we get the hilarious 411 on here like Jamie Foxx in a sheriff's hat. 

If you believe an opening 'Man On The Moon' joke like Andy Kaufman in a wrestling match with Jim Carrey, then Chappelle is leaving the trans community alone. Or is he? Just wait until you see who he's taking shots at this time, as 'The Dreamer' wakes up like R.E.M. But before you go around thinking this is the end of the world as we know it...we already left that all behind on Netflix. And this special feels fine. Even if some 'Titanic' jokes sink and Lil Nas X has been left feeling betrayed, despite a photo of the pair in the closing credits. I'd be more concerned with the one with Elon Musk, but this X still hits the spot it marks, and still has a lot to say for all the dreamers out there. Even if the inspiration could be fine-tuned to tune out all the braggadocios B.S. and back and forth with those taking shots at him. But then again, your favourite rapper does it. So why not a man who wastes more microphones than blown outlets? Dave Chappelle has never just killed them softly. His sticks and stones have always broke bones. But just like a slap that's getting heard a little less around the world, maybe this 'Dreamer' can put to sleep all the snoring of the past and return one of the best stand-up guys to the comedy circuit he is used to, instead of the social media circus. Then, like Rock, a Hart place, or his good friend and 'Chappelle Show' actor Bill Burr, we can go back to just laughing and sometimes trying to stifle a guilty laugh as we spit out our water, but never our dummy. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Dave Chappelle-The Closer', 'Chris Rock-Selective Outrage', 'Headliners Only'.