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  • If you asked me what compelled R Kelly to make Trapped in the Closet, I wouldn't the foggiest clue. Maybe it was a call from Jesus, or some higher power that only comes to people whilst on the heaviest of psychotropics. But whatever it was, this is a work where you can never be completely sure whether or not Kelly was serious or not with what he was going (in some interviews he takes himself perhaps far too seriously than someone with his reputation ever should). He absurdly takes the angle of infidelity to one crazy step after another, until we're met with a very scary notion of a midget in a cop's cabinet. Did I mention the music?

    Yes, there is, of course, God awful music that doesn't vary in the slightest for the entire 45 minute running time (filled with sounds of droplets and, well, you'll have to hear it for yourself in all cringe-worthy glory). Everything is sung by Kelly, playing over all the parts, and it becomes clear very quickly this is some kind of vanity project taken to a whole other level. First we have the man himself, played by Kelly, trapped in a closet of his mistresses, then there's the mistress's husband comes home, THEN the husband's man mistress, followed by R's wife, then... Should I keep going on, or will it kill the suspense? How much you enjoy this series, basically, depends on how much you can take R Kelly singing out a wretched soap opera, like some Z-grade director with aspirations to be legit, and at times the circumstances not making any sense whatsoever.

    In fact, I probably did deep down really dislike this series, but somehow I couldn't stop watching, and laughing my dumbfounded head off. I applaud R Kelly for this achievement, but against all my better reasoning.
  • "Trapped in the Closet," the brainchild of rapper R. Kelley, should not be taken seriously at all. You can look at R. Kelley's terrible rhyming, ridiculous plot, monotonous music that goes on for 35 minutes with no variation, homophobia, misogyny, and immorality and bemoan that this is our generation's "Odyssey." Or, you can laugh. And that is what I did. Whether he meant it or not, "Trapped in the Closet" feels like the greatest Saturday Night Live skit ever put together (in fact, SNL did parody this and it was not at all as funny as the real thing). Essentially, it's a parody of R. Kelley's world without trying to be. You will not regret watching this.
  • By now, everyone should be familiar with the name R. Kelly, especially in 2005, even your grandparents should be familiar with the name by now, which is kind of a shocker, truthfully. If R. Kelly had to get recognized, it's either the scandal he got caught in, or the Musical he's notoriously recognized for, Trapped in the Closet, A 12 part musical, that is, to say the least, actually pretty good. Rap is okay to listen to, but I'm not absorbed in it. This is about as far away from rap as you can get. You don't hear anything about Urban Culture, instead, you get an incredible story, which at times, is hideously outlandish, but, at the same time, is not to be taken too seriously.

    The story follows Sylvester (R. Kelly) who awakens in a bed that's not his own. A woman approaches him that's not his love either. He cannot explain what is happening, but is told almost moments after he has woken up to hide, because her husband is approaching the room they are in. The best place to hide is the closet. Sylvester is now taking up hiding, but is soon discovered. The only thing he can do now, is try to get out of a confrontation he never tried to be in the first place.

    This short, but very exhilarating piece of work is but one chapter of 11 chapters in The Trapped in the Closet musical. The rest follow with enough twists and turns to astonish even the most well distinguished movie-goer (Such as myself) into unbelievable moments that no one could possibly figure out.

    Yes, it's all entirely ridiculous to believe or follow, but this short film/musical isn't meant to be realistic in any way. If you think of yourself as a person who sticks close to a movie's plot, and wish for the program to end how it should, you'll be severely disappointed.

    Think of this movie as a post-modern Rocky Horror, with Rap overtones, Shakespearean dialog that's been chopped up and translated for the present time viewer/listener, All with R. Kelly narrating.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Just when I thought the genre of the rock opera had faded away, R. Kelly released this masterpiece, a romp through the world of infidelity with an R&B twist. Bad rhyming is a staple, with words being brilliantly rhymed with themselves and elements of the plot added solely for the purpose of creating rhymes (in the director's commentary, R. states that he gave the main character a Baretta because he "needed a rhyme for dresser). The plot is an emotional roller-coaster, with each additional character having slept with at least two other characters, allowing for the audience to play "Who'd they bang?" every time someone walks onto the screen.

    As for the music, R. Kelly provides the voices of all the characters, carefully crafting his 45-minute opus to the tune of one simple beat that is reminiscent of the drumbeat from a Casio keyboard.

    Oh... and there's a midget. An asthmatic one. Who craps himself. And R. Kelly tries to do a Midwestern accent.

    Essentially... Trapped in The Closet is an incredible work of art, masterfully crafted with the college students looking for good drinking games in mind. Take a shot whenever someone is caught cheating or somebody pulls a gun on someone else, then last person alive wins! For added difficulty, take a gulp of beer every time you laugh at the ridiculous rhymes.

    In short, see this movie. It's incredible, garnering a 10 on the Unintentional Comedy Scale. You won't regret it.
  • tomfrommyspace13 February 2006
    I could tell in the first 10 seconds of watching trapped in the closet that this was going to be an instant classic. R Kelly is truly a genius.. No, a GOD! His voice is amazing and his rhymes are genius(like beretta with dresser) After each chapter ending with R Kelly singing the last word quieter an quieter I didn't want it to end and you know what? It didn't ever end!!(well it did eventually) But I haven't had the urge to watch something over and over all day since I watched xanadu. I love how he sings the whole time and everyone is just lip-synching, oh and the one white person in the plot has a southern accent. You can imagine how great hearing R Kelly sing in a southern accent while this fat white lady is lip-synching. Bottom line: Trapped in the Closet is pure f...ing gold. Every time I watch it i get something new from it that I missed because I was probably busy crying or laughing or both...If you get the DVD watch the commentary- R Kelly smoking a cigar on a couch in front of the movie mostly pointing at the movie and looking at the camera, he doesn't really say much... I know R Kelly, I was speechless too.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I almost want to give it a ten for being so perfectly horrible but the fact that he takes this so seriously makes it so bad. I can't help but watch it. It's great! I'll be waiting for the next 2000 chapters, but he calls it "hip-hopera". There is no movement to the music after a chapter ends, he rhymes the same word several times in a row. It's plain awful from a musical standpoint but the fact that it's a farcical, unintentional laugh riot, makes it totally awesome! My favorite line is when the midget (and i love that he's referred to as "the midget") says "oh god, I think I just shitted on myself. How could he sing that line with a straight face?
  • This poetic masterpiece is just a simple comedy, yet is done in a perfect way. Every chapter is intriguing and immersible. It is a truly amazing story. I cant describe it myself yet I believe everyone should watch this.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    this has got to be one of the funniest things i possibly have ever seen in my life, and i have seen funny. R. Kelly gives voice to each character, all characters having the exact same voice but one, who he gives a southern-fried voice to (keep in mind, once again, in this "opera" he is singing all voices).

    did he even think to take a fiction 101 class? nope, the answer is obvious, he is writing for himself and not an audience. the funniest part of the entire "opera" is the fact that it wasn't written to be funny. R. Kelly takes himself so seriously that watching the overwrought emotion, along with whatever actually rhymes with, yes i am not lying, the word is "baffroom", is too much to handle. the guy actually sings an entire commentary about walking across a room, looking in drawers for jilted lovers, looking behind refrigerators, (nope, no one back there), all the while waving a gun around. who is cheating on whom? who cares. this is freaking hilarious for all the reasons it wasn't meant to be funny, because HE thinks it is marvelous. give it a try- just be prepared to not be able to catch your breath because you'll be laughing so hard. i'm giving it a "1" for awful because the writer's intent was serious, now if it was a spoof of an opera, that would be a different story. honestly, i don't think dave chappelle could spoof it any funnier.

    did i mention the midget in a cabinet?
  • pglove11 September 2006
    Easy to describe this one, you will either love it or hate it - look through the comments, they are pretty much all either 1 or 10 with only a few fence sitters.

    Personally I saw this for what it truly is - the funniest most entertaining complex and interwoven love dodecahedron ever conceived.

    Personally when my friend told me he'd sent me something in the post and that I'd love chapter 9 I thought it was going to be a book, when 'R. Kelly - Trapped In The Closet' arrived several days later little did I know that my life would forever be changed. Well that's an exaggeration but I did laugh from start to finish and as far as I'm concerned anything that can do even half of that deserves every award ever.

    If you have the opportunity to see this then DO! If you have heard of this 'film' and get past the low rating and make it to this comment then take it as a sign, something has compelled you this far so don't give in now, actively seek it out and spend the most entertaining minutes of your short life.

    The world needs more laughter, open the door.
  • hugepimpin66621 September 2006
    Don't get me wrong, I found this WILDLY entertaining - as a comedy. Me and everyone that watched it with me laughed hysterically at this thing. The rhymes and lyrics are 3rd grade level and simplistic.

    At first, I thought R. Kelly deliberately made this as a joke, but it seems apparent that he's taking himself pretty seriously. It's great for a good laugh.

    That other comment above this one, I contend is written by someone involved in the sales of the video or a lobotomy patient. No sane human could possibly consider this a serious work with any redeeming value. Darn funny stuff though!!
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Trapped In The Closet is a true cinematic masterpiece, not only does it deserve an Oscar it deserves a Grammy. The acting is IMPECCABLE!! Flawless!! R Kelly has produced an absolute unit of a film. What a piece. And I must mention Twans character development!! "He says move, she says no, he says move, she says no, BITCH MOVE, SHE MOVES!"
  • R Kelly is a horrible person. But this is amazing. I was shocked in this unintentional comedy gold. Everything from the beat to the extreme plot points. Just amazing. Recommend to anyone with 30 minutes to spare. But after Chapter 12 sucks
  • Scotthendrix10 January 2006
    This film is truly an insight to the mind of R.Kelly. The only thing I will give it is the singing ability of the cast; other than that...nothing. While watching this "artful" piece of ..., I was distressed to think that people could actually relate to this plot. Not only did the script completely lack any true depth, but also R.Kelly's performance as the singing narrator was accidentally comedic relief, as the whole film was, though not intended to be. When I realized that this was a serious movie and not intended to be as bad as it was, I analyzed a little more in depth the "intricate relationships, complex characters and general truths of life" as R.Kelly explains in the director commentary remix, or lack there of. This movie is entertaining for a few minutes, but for those of you who enjoy this movie and feel it tells about your own life; I am sorry, you are a deprived, uncultured, individual who lacks the ability for much thought at all. If you don't believe my statements take a look at the director commentary. As you will see, the mastermind behind this project avidly discusses what is written on the back of the DVD box which, though already unintelligent blather about cliffhangers, sounds dumber coming out of R.Kelly's mouth. If you disagree with me, or...you are R.Kelly, please attempt to deviate this post.
  • tylerhk8618 January 2006
    Probably the greatest musical masterpiece of our time. See R Kelly's vision come to life in a whirlwind of love, deception, passion, drama, comedy, and the rhyming of words with the same word. Watch as R Kelly proves to the world that even hardcore G's like him can instill a rainbow of emotions in any audience. With twelve 3 minute chapters and usually about the same number of plot twists as minutes in each chapter, how can you go wrong? The chapters each have a sense of completion so when the next chapter starts it seems too good to be true. Rumors of another 12 chapters keep me going through the day. Buy this DVD, it might be the best decision of your life.
  • This has to be the worst idea ever, a story being told with a bad beat that seems so improbable, unbelievable and pointless that it makes no cents after chapter 3. It also sets a stereotype that everyone who cheats on their husband or wife their husband or wife is cheating on them. Almost every time a group of 3 or more people are talking someone has to pointlessly pull out a gun. It just goes to show that these people try to make their guns talk for them and shoot someone for no reason. Most of the chapters you don't know whats going on unless you listen to all the chapters before it so you cant even listen to one part of it without getting lost. Unless you have like 45 minutes to waste don't watch or listen to this garbage. If you are waiting for the next chapters to come out then you must find watching paint dry and grass grow exciting.

    Question for bbadger187: What do you find awesome about this?
  • The first 12 chapters contain some of the most creative and innovative RnB video footage to date, as R Kelly's narration and vocals relate a poetic drama, constituting the pinnacle of self-deprecating nonsensical RnB music video production.

    This piece stands alone. It's a song about nothing, forming the soundtrack and dialogue of a movie, not surprisingly, about nothing. It's outlandish, unbelievable, uses convenient yet impossible plot twists, and could be seen, quite frankly, as vulgar.

    However, this viewer can't get enough. It's a bold move and a fresh take on RnB by a man whose public image has suffered in recent years. This re-establishes R Kelly as an Artist and is accessible to a viewer who can appreciate witty commentary on a genre by a creator from within that genre. Broken in all the right ways!
  • When I first heard the idea behind this "urban operetta" or whatever it's supposed to be, I accepted it. I figured R. Kelly was going to try to basically create a sort of R&B "Tommy". But no such luck. Instead, we get a production so ridiculous it would have Ed Wood rolling on the floor laughing.

    The beat never changes, and it's a pretty lousy beat to start with. It's full of awful forced rhymes that make you long for the Seussian. The story begins coherently, but falls into complete nonsense before then end. Laughably bad, but then again, it does make you laugh.

    The only thing redeeming about this steaming pile is to use it as a drinking game. Every time someone pulls out a gun...
  • It was hilarious! It is so not what most people would expect if they haven't seen it. It is NOT serious, and all the factions are part of the humor: the constant monotonous melody, sing- song-narrative, the crazy A.. twists and turns, the crazy ridiculous rhymes that didn't always work. It so plays on the crazy story R&B songs about (Lord help me, "ig'nant" drama that a lot of low class nuts bandy about all the time. What can I say I know people who come up with these crazy story lines in their real life! I am still laughing about the fact it was actually produced. Think "Married With Children" on crack crazy only with the black community. The interweaving was actually quite smart if you can just get past the monotonous typical story/ballad melody. Since it's all comedy no one should take offense from it. It's in the vein of "Mary Harman" and "Soap" it's over the top crazy humor, but the point overall is something to think about if you really want to take it seriously--think before you have an affair....you never know where that affair's been, can I get an "Amen?!!!" ha ha ha. Let me put this waiver out there though, this does not represent all African Americans/Black people, so if you don't know this...the humor will likely be lost and reduce to something racist. I think R. Kelly deserves some kudos for putting this together with excellent acting talent! If you watch the Browns, please this can't possibly offend you!
  • bbadger18713 December 2005
    After watching just the first chapter, I had to continue to watch the rest of it. At the end of every chapter, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Now that I've seem all twelve chapters, I can't wait until more chapters are produced. It has been rumored that chapters 13-22 have been written, and only R. Kelly knows what's going to happen next. I listen to my favorite chapters, just about every day, and I love to sing them where ever I go. For everyone who doesn't listen to R&B, or if you haven't heard R. Kelly, I suggest that you check out this DVD, as soon as possible. Until another chapter, or set of chapters is released, I'll be listening to these 12.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I really don't see R. Kelly making this 'series' out of seriousness, actually I think he made it on a dare or something to prove to his friends that his fans will eat up anything he puts out. So R. Kelly drank a bottle of laxatives and squeezed out 42 minutes of a musical. This thing covered EVERYTHING in way to much detail and seems based on a collage of Springer guests.

    The reason I say all this is because I couldn't take it seriously and I can't imagine anyone else doing the same, each sequence just goes on & on, really, why does it take 10 verses to describe a man opening a closet door? And that's just an example; this sort of things goes on through out the whole series.

    The best and worst part of it all, the 12 segment ends with a sort of cliffhanger, letting you think that R. Kelly just bought another bottle of laxatives and is stewing up another 6 or 12 segments to this all.
  • aletafat4 February 2024
    This is a masterpiece and unfortunately it has been taken down on the one major video platform everyone use (we all know which one) but luckily for me my brother bought the dvd back in the day so i will forever be able to watch this masterpiece. I mean this is peak comedy and peak musical. If there was a broadway play of this and it was sung as beautifully as R Kelly does in this i would pay my money and go most definitely. The people that rate this low have a problem with the singers personal life and don't rate this accordingly to what it truly is. Which is a great musical comedy with tons of drama. Favorite chapters are 1-12.
  • cokemidget29 January 2006
    My friend showed me this video, and I must say it is among the weirdest things I have recently seen. I seriously don't know what the heck happened. It is kind of like a modern day opera, but the music is really bad, and the acting is very weak. I'm really not a fan of R Kelly or rap music in general, but the lyrics in this were really poorly written, and the whole thing had one repetitious beat in it. I honestly don't know why anyone would want to put the effort into making this - did someone down the line actually read the script and think it was good??? I also thought it might have been made as a joke or something.

    I'm giving it a generous 3 out of 10, just because I feel people should see it for themselves just to see how weird it is.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I don't remember how I first heard about the Trapped in the Closet series. I just looked them up one day and fell in love.

    Trapped in the Closet is a sort of hip-hopera or urban opera, according to Wikipedia. Written, directed, singing, and starring R. Kelly, it chronicles the bizarre twists and turns of a man named Sylvester after he's caught having a one-night stand. It's nothing short of brilliant.

    It would be very easy for this to get very bad. It could take itself seriously and be a joke. It could be a tremendous failure. In fact, people seem to be conflicted. They either love it or hate it. Just go look at the comments, and you'll see for yourself. But I'm on the love it side.

    Mostly because it is hilarious. I didn't really go into it expecting gay lovers and midgets, but that's exactly what I got. Set to repetitive background music with strategically-placed instrumentals, it's all about the amazing lyrics. So what if they don't always rhyme? So what if the music isn't that great. It's not about that.

    I saw it today in "movie" format, all twenty-two chapters together in an hour-and-a-half movie form. It was pretty good, and that is what I give three and a half stars. I give the fragmented series a four. It is designed to be seen in little bits with a cliffhanger. I saw it first on the internet, and actually, I would recommend that over seeing it all continuously. It's the whole suspense and the feeling like, "Oh my god, I have to see what happens next." It takes you back, in my case, before I was born, to old radio dramas and crazy soap operas and laughs at them.

    The series isn't over yet; there are ten more chapters coming out this summer. They'll probably be on IFC, which is where I saw the movie.

    And a note, there's quite a bit of violence and homophobia presented, and that's been a problem to some, too. For some reason, if it's in a movie, it's okay, but people expect all series to be like The Andy Griffith Show. Anyway, yeah, they talk about violence. Not too much is shown, but they do talk a lot about domestic violence. And there is homophobia, but there are four queer characters. The homophobia's presented as part of the story. Good lord, people, no need to get so defensive; he didn't have to put any gay people in it. And I know R. Kelly has been accused of horrible things. And that has nothing to do with this series.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    The fact that people are calling him a 'musical genius' for this is absurd.

    He uses the SAME MUSIC IN EVERY chapter and just randomly talks over it, with what has to be the most completely retarded thing to ever be recorded.

    And to the people who are claiming this is R. Kelly 'purposely' knowing that he was making a comedy?

    NO....he was downright serious and thought he was on the same level as Mozart, Puccini and other opera greats, when he wrote this meandering sack of crap known as "Trapped in the closet"

    He sat back and thought he wrote the 'Magnum Opus' of RB songs.

    R. Kelly is full of himself....and we all know what R. Kelly is full of.

    R. Kelly should be in prison for being a pedophile.

    I know that if the average Joe got caught doing what he did, he'd be in prison for a long time.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Warning Spoilers!

    Westart Out with Sylvester played by R. Kelly who wakes up in a different bed. He is in the home of a woman named Cathy played by LeShay N. Tomlinson who tells Sylvester to hide in her closet because her husband Rufus played by Rolando Boyce is home. Rufus finds Sylvester and Sylvester holds Rufus at Gunpoint telling him he has to leave. Rufus says that he has to see this and calls up somebody to his apartment. When the mysterious person arrives Cathy and Sylvester are shocked to see it is a man.

    Rufus has been cheating on Cathy with another man named Chuck played by Malik Middleton. Sylvester rushes home because another man answers his phone. He finds his Wife Gwendolyn played by Cat Wilson has been cheating on Sylvester with a man named James played by Michael Kenneth Williams. Sylvester and James get in a fight which makes James Fire his gun and shoot Gwendolyn's Brother Twan played by Eric Lane.

    Twan Is still alive and well and was just shot in th arm. James goes home to his wife Bridget played by Rebecca Field who has been cheating on James with Big Man played by Drevon Cooks. The first 12 chapters ends with Bridget revealing that she is pregnant and Big Daddy is the father.

    This is the best Hip Hoprea I have seen. Call it my Guilty Pleasure because It definitely falls under the so bad it's good category.

    Rated R For Pervasive Language And Brief Sexuality.

    43min.

    10 uses of The F-word.

    ****/****
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