Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth

TV Special
2004
TV-MA
1h

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Dave Chappelle in Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth (2004)

Chappelle cuts loose in what he does best, Chappelle-style! And for what it's worth, no one is safe from Dave!Chappelle cuts loose in what he does best, Chappelle-style! And for what it's worth, no one is safe from Dave!Chappelle cuts loose in what he does best, Chappelle-style! And for what it's worth, no one is safe from Dave!

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

9.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 4 nominations total

Photos5

Top cast2

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Dave Chappelle

Self

Greer Barnes

Announcer
(uncredited)

Director
- Stan Lathan
Writer
- Dave Chappelle
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews15

8.59.3K

Featured reviews

8refinedsugar

Where Is Ja!?

Dave Chappelle was back with another TV comedy special four years after 'Killin' Them Softly' and it's still a red hot banger. 'For What It's Worth' continues showcasing his unique brand of comedy that is sure to make you laugh a ton if you like his previous work. I think it's important to mention this came on the heels of his break thru tv sketch show. His name was out there. His popularity was soaring.

Why I'm telling you this is because while 95% of the material is funny there are also bits that miss the mark. Dave is older, more mature, but using his audience as a podium to voice his opinion. Almost ranting it seems like at times. Bits about a black youth who killed a young girl are offputting in his defense of him, factually incorrect and a spot on "how old is 15, really?" is borderline distasteful. It speaks many truths, tons of funny moments, but I felt it went off course a few times. Not enough to sink or ruin the goodness here, but enough that I wanna mention it. Also needlessly parlays into race relation material briefly in comparisons I didn't think were necessary and a little played out already.

However those are relatively small nitpicks. A great hour of comedy with too many killer moments to mention that I gut-busted numerous times hearing for the first time. I will however bring up a hilarious story with Dave on bus held hostage by a homeless man jerking off. A sign of a good special too it still holds up very well many years later and Dave shows heart speaking about his family, his kids plus the price of being a celebrity.

10aoa8212

Best Performance of his Career

This Showtime stand-up special is the best performance of his career. Filmed in front of a live audience in San Francisco, he starts things off with a bang by comparing SF to another large city in the bay area. Another thing that stands out is that he talks about Utah kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart, who isn't usually fodder for comedians. The way that he makes a tragedy funny, without being obscene or disrespectful to the victim is commendable.

Dave does discuss the usual targets such as Michael Jackson and R. Kelly, but does so in a very original way without dehumanizing them like many people would. If you like edgy comedy that's hardcore without being obscene, and tough talk, but from a really nice guy, then this is for you.

9lawrenceelliott

Another great show!

I think his previous show was better, but this one was great, too. He has a strange way of looking at life, yet can bring it to a very REAL point at the end that makes you go, "Yeah!" But you have to follow each routine to the end to get the points he astutely makes. He draws a portrait of what he wants you to see very well, so each detail is very important for you to follow. I've probably watched the previous show a couple of hundred times and I seem to pick up on a different point every viewing. It has become one of my favorite party DVDs. Everyone loves it! And I'll be buying this DVD just like I did the first one. In this show, one routine seemed a little sick as it began. But by the end of it, I said out loud "Yeah, that's right!" Maybe you just have to have a taste for his brand of comedy.

8bstarter29

Very Funny But Don't Watch It Too Much Or It Will Wear Thin

For What It's Worth is a great performance by Chappelle. Not as funny as Killin 'Em Softly but this one manages to provide some side-splitting laughs. If you watch this for the first time you will laugh your ass from his jokes about crack heads, to plastic surgery. The one bad thing about this stand-up is that after you watch it once, and go back to it, it isn't near as funny as it was the first time. You really can't re-live the jokes over at all. Overall though, this will give you an hour an absolute entertainment. The show does include a lot of swearing but it seems so casual you will hardly even notice. For What It's Worth is probably only 10 dollars, so go get it because you will really enjoy the first go around.

bob the moo

Too hit and miss for mass appeal but fans will love it

Live in San Francisco for this television special, Dave Chappelle shows here the qualities that make some love him, some hate him and others fall in between. That is a rubbish description of this film of course but by it I mean that this is very hit and miss stuff. One moment I am roaring with laughter, only for the next for a whole section to fall flat (even though the audience are rolling and wiping tears from their eyes). Some of his stuff is very smart and very funny while other bits just seem lazy and a tad forced with only the outrageousness of his material carrying him with the audience.

It is undeniable that race is a bit part of all his material and I can completely understand why some people dislike him for that. However for me his race-based material here (and there was a lot of it) is no different from the rest of his material in that it has hits and misses across it. This lack of consistency across the hour was a downer for me but the hits were just about often and strong enough to keep the show going. Chappelle himself runs the stage well and engages with his small audience like a pro. He is good at broaching whatever subject he sees fit to deal with, which is a good thing in a comedian rather than settling for comfort. At times this produces some material that is very funny as well as thought-provoking , sadly at other times I was left wondering what he was getting at (his attack on the kidnapped white girl was badly misjudged surely the media that focused on this girl should have been his target?).

Overall though this was an enjoyable film even if it wasn't as consistent as I would have liked. Too hit and miss to appeal to a wider audience but for fans of Chappelle this will make for a good laugh.

Quotes
Dave Chappelle: [On the Michael Jackson child sexual abuse allegations] Or maybe he did it. Who knows? Who knows? That's the thing, that's what I want to say: Who knows? Who the fuck knows? Mike, God, and this little boy know, that's about it. That's about it. Only reason I can even talk about this shit is everybody's speculating. They all think he did it, and I don't think he did it. I'm alone in this. I don't think he did it. I'm not gonna say "I don't think he did it", that's too strong. Let me just say I'm reserving judgment until all the facts come out. But so far from what I've heard, I mean the kid said he was dying of cancer, he was in Make-A-Wish Foundation, he claims he had two weeks to live, and it was his dying wish to meet Michael Jackson. Come on, Man. Give me a fucking break. This kid is 10-years-old, he don't remember "Thriller". The fuck you want to meet Michael Jackson for, honestly? I remember "Thriller" and I just kinda wanted to meet this nigga. Like, I wouldn't break an appointment to meet him, I'll put it that way. I'd have to already be free. That's ridiculous, that'd be like if I'm dying in two weeks and go "Oh, mama, get me in a room with Chubby Checker." I wouldn't wanna meet that motherfucker. Not in my last two weeks. why not Usher, or somebody like this. So then the kid claims he goes to Michael's house - this is where it all gets crazy - I don't... like, you know, he does everything you'd expect at Michael's house, they climb trees, and rode roller coasters and Ferris wheels, the chef made cookies, pies, and cakes, they was petting a monkey and giraffes, sing songs: kid shit. And in the middle of all this child like activity, for some reason, Mike pulled out some wine and some pills and sucked this kid's dick - folks it hurts me to say it - and the kid had the nerve to call that abuse. Motherfucker, that is a good host. Goddamn, what else do you want? What else do you want? I'm lucky to get a glass of grape drink at my friend's house, let alone a roller coaster ride and my dick sucked. Mike must be confused, like "I brought you in my house, I fed you, I sucked your dick, and this is how you repay me, motherfucker? This was your wish not mine. I thought you were dying in two weeks, what happened to that motherfucker? I've been in court for a year and a half, you get stronger every time I see you."