Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (2019 TV Special) User Reviews (472)

The Uncomfortable Truths of 2019

[MogwaiMovieReviews · 8/10 · 26 August 2019]

Dave still reliably dropping some awkward truth bombs, especially on the witch-hunt of Louis CK, the LGBTQRS folks, offence archaeology, false accusations and the terribly oppressed French actor Jussie Smollet. Some of the relentlessly anti-white-people stuff made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, to his credit, he's made a show that will make pretty much EVERYONE feel a little uncomfortable at some point or other, and that's something we all need from time to time.

His last few Netflix 'specials' have felt rougher around the edges and more haphazardly thrown together than an old-school, studiously crafted stand-up comedy movie, and this is no exception. Very little of it is ingeniously devised, laugh-out-loud jokes, and really what you're getting here is Dave Chappelle's opinions on the world today presented in a light-hearted, rambling manner. Going into it with that expectation, I found him to be a very enjoyable companion for an hour.

No Apologies, about time

[Otte1 · 8/10 · 7 September 2019]

About time stand-up did what is supposed to do...make us laugh, make us uncomfortable, make us think and make us laugh again. Dave did this and did it well.

There are several instances of where Dave 'trapped' the audience by taking the joke one direction then twisting the punchline in a 180 turn which made those that was clapping realized how hypocritical they had been....and still got laughs.

This is something everyone should see, but many will miss the point of the whole special and only concentrate on one joke that 'offended' them.

Those that are tired of PC, want to laugh, want to learn...this is for you.

A Breath of fresh air!

[jerrybellevillepw · 9/10 · 27 August 2019]

This performance should be required viewing for Colleges!

Highly offensive, and therefore incredibly entertaining

[royhectorkabanlit · 10/10 · 30 August 2019]

I don't know but I've always found that a lot of the most offensive comedians are usually the funniest and most entertaining ones like Jo Koy, Ricky Jervais, etc. and Dave Chapelle is definitely one of those, making jokes about Michael Jackson, the LGBT community, Jussie Smollett, Louis CK, among others.

And he also got to say what I've always thought about Anthony Bourdain's killing himself despite having one of the best jobs in the world. Incredibly entertaining for me, definitely a Must See, one of the best comedy specials on Netflix.

The greatest honor to George Carlin

[mr-altex · 10/10 · 28 August 2019]

I hope Dave will change the world with this. It was brilliant.

Dave Turns Coal Into Diamonds

[MellowStello · 10/10 · 27 August 2019]

Another phenomenal standup special from Dave Chappelle. Netflix should just give him their entire budget because his specials are the ONLY "Netflix Originals" I have ever enjoyed from beginning to end.

He takes the PC garbage we've been force-fed for the last decade, puts it in a blender, and then pours that sh** down the drain.

He's the only comedian that can get away with these hilarious jokes. I should probably say he's the only comedian with the audacity and confidence to pull it off... ON NETFLIX, the biggest Neoliberal Corporate shill on the planet.

WELL DONE, sir. WELL DONE. :)

Unapologetic, unafraid and God damn funny

[harry-chapman2111 · 10/10 · 27 August 2019]

Dave Chapelle flys in the face to controversy, producing comedy so refreshing in the current climate of censorious Woke-ness.

He tackles on the nose topics, making the audience undulate between gasps and roaring with laughter!

He evokes the best of Lenny Bruce, unapologetic, unbowed appreciating that everything is a topic for humour or nothing is.

Take a bow.

Masterpiece

[kiragu-42887 · 10/10 · 27 August 2019]

Its been awhile since I saw someone navigate landmines with such mastery

Hilarious!

[brennan_gulino · 10/10 · 27 August 2019]

Dave Chappelle is definitely still the best comedian. This is not for the weak hearted and easily offended. Dave goes in and says what he wants. Not gonna lie, it was refreshing to hear someone truly saying jokes with no regard to "correctedness." My wife and I were laughing really hard the entire time. Don't listen to all the click bait news articles, they're just trying to get your clicks via outrage. Watch it for yourself, it's worth it.

Glad to see anyone not being PC!!!

[WeWatchMovies · 29 August 2019]

We thought it was truth, so sadly HILARIOUS. The only reason for the 9 instead of a 10 is because there were a few things we didn't get haha. Otherwise still love Dave!! Don't ever cave to PC culture man!!!

Pretty good

[bgar-80932 · 7/10 · 28 August 2019]

This special is pretty good and reminds me of old Dave even though it focuses more on politics and what's going on in the world. That's what's good about it though, it pokes fun at all the goofy things we have to deal with as a society now. He's never overly mean too so those he makes fun of shouldn't really have too much of an issue with it, he just shows that what's going on is a bit odd and points out why. He's gotten some hate for the Trans jokes but I never thought they were that bad.

Finally! Someone who isn't afraid of the PC culture vultures but still hilarious

[kaydrelia · 10/10 · 31 August 2019]

Always been a fan of Dave, the dude is a legend. He didn't sugarcoat anything in this special, he was brutally honest and hilarious at the same time. Dude called a spade a spade and didnt care who got offended because he knows EVERYONE gets offended by literally breathing these days. He said what everyone else is too afraid to say and did it in a way that makes you laugh. Bravo man, I hope he does more like this, sick of this PC world

Hilarious as ever!!!

[vandrist · 7/10 · 26 August 2019]

Only than his early work in stand up, I'd have to say this is the best one to date. I was laughing out loud constantly and he doesn't shy away from making fun of everyone. Great show, I'll probably watch this a couple more times to be perfectly honest.

Thanks God we still have Dave Chapelle!!

[florenciaactis23 · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

Amazing as always, telling all the truths nobody dears to talk about now a days. Super smart and Funny. Dave is the best!

One of the few genuinely funny people out there.

[polakphil · 10/10 · 30 August 2019]

I rarely laugh at comedians, but Dave had me laughing the whole time. I think it's because the topics are real and genuinely delivered, the jokes always go in a different direction to where you think they're going, and you're always left thinking about possible contradictions in what society thinks and what is reality. Strong political and social messages in such a funny manner with fantastic punch lines, timing and delivery. Such a fresh set, he has his fingers right on the pulse of conflicting thoughts in peoples minds on current issues and knows exactly how to make people laugh at themselves and question the norms. I don't understand why there are people out there that can't take a step back and think about what message or question he is asking, instead of picking out words and red flagging them, like their real life is a twitter algorithm blocking and reporting naughty words.

A Breath of fresh Air

[mrjusticeforall · 10/10 · 30 August 2019]

Most comedians are scared they will be cancelled if they talk about a particular group or certain individuals. They have spent the last 3 years making jokes about Trump wich has become draining and not funny. I'm glad we have Dave who reminds us that there is funny any every situation

Perfection!

[mjwluv2sing · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

You can't get better standup than this. This is the reason he is the reigning champ of comedy. Nobody nails the "sensitive" stuff like Dave. Congratulations Dave! You are the man.

Dave Chappelle sits at the head of the table

[jbartlett-940-874538 · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

Funny, insightful, and he carries on the tradition of stand-up comedians wearing dumb outfits. He's a voice worth listening to.

The Comedy you just dont hear no more

[deandsouza15892 · 9/10 · 3 September 2019]

As someone who constantly supports no barriers within comedy, I respect and admire Dave Chappelle for the work he's put into this stand-up special. In a time when everyone is apparently allowed to make their feelings well known, we've succumbed to an age when political correctness means more than the right to free speech. And the entertainment group that gets hit the worst, are comedians.

Comedians are seeing a decline in their audience, because you can sense that they're afraid to be themselves in the material they present. While folks like Kevin Hart and Aziz Ansari are riding this out based on their established audience, Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle are pushing forward, doing their best to show how comedy is meant to be unrestrained.

With no apparent fear, Chappelle takes on the topics of school shootings, feminism, homophobia and opiod addiction, by elaborating their funnier elements. They're jokes that you're bound to make when you're drunk within a safe space, but wouldn't dare say out loud in public environments. This is exactly what we're missing. If a collective group of people can ruin a comedians life based on tweets made 15 years ago, you're effectively killing their art form. Their art is expression, and someone telling them 'how' or 'what' to express, is counterproductive.

I'd encourage everyone to give this a watch. Its extremely controversial, but you need to understand why that is relevant to humor; why hearing these bits are important for comedic progression. I hope this does well enough to bring back old-school stand-up.

Amazing

[phollyjunk · 1 September 2019]

This is the best thing I've watched on Netflix in many years, I love Dave Chappelle even more than I did when he made Chappelle's Show. We need more people like him who aren't afraid to speak their mind no matter what others think instead of everyone being so afraid they might offend somebody.

Funny but not classic Chapelle.

[airborne_trooper · 7/10 · 26 August 2019]

First I'll say that this is funny enough to past the time for an hour. But it's certainly not vintage "rolling on the floor funny" Chapelle circa. 2001.

Having said that, Chapelle has no boundaries and there's no line he won't cross. It's refreshing especially in this era of people being perpetually offended. He's still the insightful story teller he's always been, but a lot of the jokes are pretty superficial and only a handful have that "funny but true, make you think" characteristic.

I love Chapelle and this was good, but if you're expecting "Killin' Them Softly" this ain't it.

One of Dave's best work!

[jondavid1991 · 10/10 · 28 August 2019]

This is literally Dave showing he does not care about saving his career. He lays it all out and it's hilarious! Dave shows he's one of the last true comedians left

It's Chapelle so just watch it

[sutherlandjerry-35536 · 7/10 · 8 September 2019]

It seems to me that his recent specials have been More on the commentary side than the jokey side. Like many great comedians his older stuff is much funnier in my opinion. There are no memorable bits in his new specials. For example there are no cops sprinkling crack on dead bodies. But he is always interesting to watch not only because he is funny but for his insightful views and social commentary.

Mediocre

[dougmacdonaldburr · 5/10 · 28 August 2019]

Dave Chappelle used to be one of my favourite comedians. These days I don't find him nearly as funny as I used to. I must have outgrown him. To be fair I can still acknowledge his talent. He has great delivery, timing, he knows how to work a crowd and can improvise if he has to. He is very good at his job and I'm not going to even try and deny that. The problem for me is his newer material. I can't relate to it the same way as I used to with his old stuff, but, honestly I don't even really like that anymore. There are some types criticising this for being offensive. I don't think that is fair. There were a few jokes I did not like, but, I'm not going to waste time complaining, I just didn't laugh at those. There are other people saying this show is edgy and brave. It isn't that either. He doesn't take any real risks in this, the world has just become so insanely politically correct so maybe it seems that way. What I will say is that I don't think he is trying as hard as he used to. His old work was quicker and there were more jokes. Now he will spend as much time doing over the top reactions to his own jokes as he will actually telling them. It gets kind of annoying. He has always been a bit smug, but, it is only getting worse. I suppose it must be difficult to stay relevant as you get older, settle down and have a family. I liked this enough to watch it, but, I will not be rewatching it and I think it is safe to say his best days are behind him. If you are a fan then you might as well watch it, but, don't expect too much from it.

Back to the True Funny!

[KevinWhitney · 10/10 · 27 August 2019]

Chappelle is holding no punches, which is what comedy should be. No one is safe in this, which is what comedy should be. Seriously, he is back to the peak of his skills. Welcome back!