Dave Chappelle: The Closer

Chappelle once again does his best to expose the inconsistencies, hypocrisies and nonsense so prevalent in the treatment of race, sex and celebrity in American culture, and to offer his own contrasting point of view.

I'd put this finale to the Netflix Chappelle series of specials on par with Sticks & Stones. Dave's refusal to back down or apologize for his material is something to be admired, even if I kind of feel like at this point he's only continuing to fuel the fire with the trans community solely out of stubbornness. However you feel about these topics, Dave always presents them with evidence on both sides of every argument and reminds us that it's essential to be able to laugh.

I love Chappelle, but this is sloppy. It lacks substance and cohesion and mostly just meanders its way through without much direction or thought. This isn't final product, one hour Netflix special material. It's more like second-rate podcast material. Chappelle doesn't seem to give a fuck anymore about the comedy aspect of his act-that, or he's losing his edge. I didn't find the content offensive (his critique is hardly objectionable), just not all that funny, thoughtful, clever or entertaining.

A fine hour of stand-up, which finds Chapelle more interested in opining than offering traditional “comedy”, though the childlike bluntness and directness used in the approach to his hot-button punchlines is certainly bracing. That a show as even-handed and level-headed as this could cause major meltdowns within some sections of society is puzzling and even slightly alarming – but props to Chapelle for charging in where others would fear to tread, even if the “fear” present is a bit mystifying.

Really good, sane and rational and a good counter balance to the PC, victim minded millenial children out there

The special often devoids itself of comedy to become pure soapbox at times, but you know what? It's a soapbox I can appreciate on some level. Chappelle's personal stories are far more endearing than his usual parley into mocking the black identity and his reaction to the modern cancel culture of the day conveys just how abrasive it is. The jokes are weak as hell and his insight on trans issues are callous in their own way, but I think it says a lot about progressives if this causes such outrage.

Although he seems to really be on the defensive here, this doesn't feel like simply an addendum to his previous special. In fact, his punchlines come across across here as simpler and less convoluted than ever before. Whatever else can be said about this, it is amazing how people have demonstrated both how much they can miss the message with this one, as well as their remarkable ability to simply not let things go. It takes a comedian to reveal who the clowns are.

It's fine. Anyone who loves it and anyone who hates it is not to be trusted. Strays too far from funny into story. Has some solid material.

Chappelle is totally peerless in what he's doing these days. He's already proved to himself and the world that he can make us laugh as well as anybody ever has. Now he wants to have conversations with us about the absurdities of our world and culture, and I think it's a very worthwhile conversation. I understand the backlash (and certainly disagree with some of the things he says), but I also think the outrage basically misses the forest for the trees.

It ain't much, but it's honest work. Not the funniest or most insightful but Chappell encapsulates wonderfully what stand-up is all about. Addressing the social elephants in the room with childlike candidness. Bluntness does not equal cruelty and people who take his comedy to heart should reflect what it says about them, not Chappelle. As long as there exists a "punch down" mentality, it only upholds segregationist double standards. That shit deserves to be called out.