3.5/5
The Closers
75 Mins. Starring: Dave Chappelle. Director: Rikki Hughes. On: Netflix.
Controversial comments, like cigarettes, come thick and fast in Chappelle shows. I remember seeing him on Broadway in New York, on the 4th of July weekend in 2019. Far from 'The Closer', but close to the edge of the time when we were coming to put in check our, and the world's own, casual cruelties. He opened with a great gag that elicited as many groans and gripes as it did cackles and cheers. He promptly told us all in attendance at NYC's Lunte-Fontnane Theatre to "man the f### up", because it was going to get much worse from then on out. He wasn't lying. He was thriving. It really did. But it was oh so good. No wonder he had our phones locked up like Styles P and Akon.
Now, unwrapping a surprise stand-up special for Netflix right in time for the holidays, he's at it again like Timbaland and the late, great Magoo. It's been some time since 'The Closer' caused uproar in the LGBT community, but he doubled-down on his last special, 2023's 'The Dreamer'. Now, like a Denzel Washington runaway train, he gives us 'The Unstoppable...', directed by Rikki Hughes, with more in its name ('The Unstoppable N##### Act'), similar to an untitled Nas album channelling the one and only Gil Scott-Heron. You can expect Dave to more than ruffle feathers as much as he rifles through his black and white photo black book of celebrity connects for his closing credit gallery. Featuring everyone from Bruce Springsteen to a Wayans brother ("there's more of them"). In this one, he defends Diddy (sort of...he's obviously kidding around, but there's something deeper to be said) and his Bill Burr like tour of taking that Saudi Arabia money. And of course, he goes by the J.K. Rowling book when he talks about a certain community.
Most, and certainly Bill Maher, won't like it, but once we get past all of that jazz, in self-defence instead of deference (the kind that ruined Ricky Gervais' last special a little, let's hope the same can't be said for the one he has primed for the New Year), we get to some real comedy gold, that's truly saying something about the society we live in at this very maddening moment. The kind of lions and lambs talk he was getting at in his Mark Twain prize acceptance speech, with his mother mouthing along what she always told him, in a bold and beautiful opening here. Sure, taking it to Trump, Musk et al, right there in the US nation's capital of DC, Dave Chappelle is not afraid in his Kaepernick jacket. Even if he is scared of his own attack and what happened to Charlie Kirk. Chappelle says he was no MLK, and makes some good points, in-between the jabs. Social media and search engines, on the other hand, will just run off the fumes of these controversial quotes without the context, or the nuance, that is king.
I, myself, should have even looked at 'The Closer' closer. But when it comes to this one, we should really sit up and take notice, as he gives us a knockout story about Jack Johnson (the boxer, not the 'Sitting, Waiting, Wishing' singer) which really hits at the racial divide in America that's sadly canvas imbedded in the history of that great countries skin, like orange is in the White House. Not only that, he links it all together with a story about Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' (because you know what that song is all about, right?) and Senator John McCain. Two great men in history and humility. And the karma of the date we got Obama. But before you get at the late McCain, like an ignorant Trump saying he doesn't like his war hero's captured, check why John McCain really remained a POW. The iconic Nipsey Hussle and legendary Aretha Franklin also get their respects, as does Chappelle's comedy muse and mentor, the late Charlie Barnett. One of his jokes he references we've actually heard before in a Chris Rock special. The jokes about transgender people and Cassie need to stop, like Diddy and blood money, but this is one act that still has some right in it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: Dave Chappelle: 'The Closer', Dave Chappelle: 'Equanimty', Dave Chappelle: '8.46'.
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