MovieChat Forums > Dave Chappelle Discussion > New Special on Netflix: Disappointing

New Special on Netflix: Disappointing

posted 5 months ago by ace2 (545)
6 replies | jump to latest

The talent and charisma is definitely lurking, but it doesn't seem like he is trying anymore. Feels like he is coasting which for some reason he can't do as well anymore - he might benefit from more prep and writing. He used to be the undisputed best stand-up in my opinion, but I couldn't even finish this last special. Last two have been subpar.

Sets are no longer tight, too long between jokes. It is too much about him now. As intelligent as he is, he has always liked juvenile jokes which he seems to be overdoing now.

I think Netflix throwing this money around is reducing quality when the compensation is based purely on the reputation of the talent, rather than the actual show.

[–] moviebuff00 (445) 4 months ago

he's literally not even trying anymore. he's on stage basically jerking himself off and making the shittiest jokes imaginable. netflix needs stop paying him. his last special wasnt even funny but at least it looked like he tried to write jokes. this time they're joke like the shit guys say among each other. just super shallow boring jokes.

[–] Burk48917 (11049) 4 months ago

It was ok, with a few big laughs, but not really much content and a lot of what he had was meh.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8627) 4 months ago

I felt similar.
To me Chappelle, and Ricky Gervais are experts at making ugly jokes that make people laugh involuntarily, like dead baby jokes. It's a different kind of funny to me.
Chappelle is like a low-life, low-intellectual comic. Gervais and also Louie CK were like this too but Gervais and CK could also rise to greater heights, whereas Chappelle cannot. The only reason I watched it was that it was free on Netflix, and I was about to let my subscription lapse.

[–] ace2 (545) 4 months ago

Got to disagree with you there. Though Chappelle can be silly and never went to college - everybody else in his family did. His parents were a teacher/writer. Watch his interviews and some of his mid-career material or his SNL monologue, he can get very philosophical.

Nevertheless, he is just cashing checks at this point.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8627) 4 months ago

I live in a very expensive area of the country where you have to be rich to live here. Houses are north of $3-7 million, and there are a lot of kids whose parents are big shot multi-millionaires but one or more of their kids is a Hunter Biden type. I found Chappelle late, but always considered his humor pretty juvenile. That's OK - juveniles have to laugh too, but as you said - cashing checks, not funny or the funny spots are far apart.

[–] SandyR (7461) 4 months ago

Good luck!