Chappelle throws a 'Party'

Robert Denerstein, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 3, 2006 at midnight

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If the idea of seeing a reunion performance by The Fugees means nothing to you, you may not get the full impact of Dave Chappelle's Block Party. And if you're a fan of Chappelle's Comedy Central show, you may feel a bit dissatisfied by this loosey- goosey hybrid. Part concert film, part documentary and part comedy, Block Party plays like a sampler of contemporary rap.

Here's the background:

In 2004, Chappelle - a comic who marches to his own beat - decided that he wanted to throw a block party in Brooklyn. He tried to bring together all the rappers and musicians he most admired, focusing on performers who don't necessarily get a lot of radio play because their message tends to be strong and their work is peppered with profanity.

To make a filmed record of this block party, Chappelle teamed with director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Gondry, who has a music-video background, gives us footage of Chappelle's visit to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, where he persuades a college marching band and some of the town's residents to take a bus trip to New York for the party.

The party itself took place on a rainy Saturday and included contributions from Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Dead Prez, Lauryn Hill and The Fugees.

The performances are interrupted by comments from Chappelle or scenes of him hanging backstage with rappers. He makes a casual and likable screen presence, and his clowning with people from Dayton and Brooklyn and with performers he obviously admires helps create a party atmosphere.

Chappelle also provides glimpses of the Bed Stuy neighborhood where the concert took place. It happens to be the spot where the late Biggie Smalls attended day care, a point of reverence in a film such as this.

The idea is that all are welcome to dine at Chappelle's inclusive hip- hop smorgasbord, but Gondry miscalculates by tossing the comedy into the performances, which means songs don't always play to their conclusions. It also would have helped had Chappelle done a little more stand-up.

It's difficult to imagine that Block Party will be a smash, but Chappelle has provided a way for those who couldn't make the party to attend, albeit in belated fashion.

And here's the good news: You don't even have to wear a plastic bag over your clothes to keep from getting wet.

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