I can understand why Dave Chappelle isn't to everyone's tastes, but I've always considered his comedic skill to be in his style, his delivery and his ability to raconteur, to regale with extended anecdotes. The first five minutes of The Dreamer were crass, no doubt offensive to many people and struck me with parallels to Ricky Gervais' latest offering, Armageddon.
But that's where the similarity ended. Whereas I found Armageddon to be intellectually lazy, low-effort and crass for the sake of it, it became clear to me as I continued to make my way through The Dreamer that Chappelle's opening minutes were merely a riff on the controversy of his previous shows.
From this point on, Chappelle dives straight back into his signature style, with some deadpan lines revolving around racial humour, his own recent history and press, other celebrities and his unique form of storytelling which draws you in.
I had some good laughs and even where I wasn't laughing, I was entertained.
But that's where the similarity ended. Whereas I found Armageddon to be intellectually lazy, low-effort and crass for the sake of it, it became clear to me as I continued to make my way through The Dreamer that Chappelle's opening minutes were merely a riff on the controversy of his previous shows.
From this point on, Chappelle dives straight back into his signature style, with some deadpan lines revolving around racial humour, his own recent history and press, other celebrities and his unique form of storytelling which draws you in.
I had some good laughs and even where I wasn't laughing, I was entertained.