The Dreamer is a pathetic mess from a man who simply doesn’t care anymore
Written by Ian Thomas Malone, Posted in Blog, Pop Culture, TV Reviews
The worst kinds of people to watch sports with are the ones who blame the officiating every single time their team gets blown out. The discourse surrounding the past few Dave Chappelle specials has essentially shifted from the comedic value of his work into a broader cultural discussion into the boundaries of the genre itself. Plenty of far-right publications took the non-sequitur route in their praise of Chappelle’s broadsides against the transgender community, lauding the bravery of his so-called “free speech” while casting aside any exploration of the merit of his humor.
The Dreamer is a lazy victory lap from a man with nothing else of value to offer the world beyond self-congratulatory musings on his own legacy, a lethargic effort aimed solely at fueling the far-right grievance industrial complex for another week. The Closer was a mostly humorless treatise centered around the backlash to his prior special Sticks and Stones. While Chappelle claims early on in The Dreamer that the controversy wasn’t worth the trouble, it’s kind of clear that it was, if only for one fairly sad reason. Trans jokes are pretty much all he’s got left.
After an opening bit where he compares trans people to Jim Carrey’s much-lampooned method acting work as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon, Chappelle mostly stays away from the trans community, though not without a clunk segue via some cheap jokes aimed at disabled people. There are some tasteless jokes aimed at the broader LGBTQ community, and a joke about identifying as a woman if he was sent to prison that falls in line with his previous special’s fascination with early 2000s style edgelord humor, but you can tell that Chappelle knows that his audience is growing tired of his obsession with gay people. A recurring theme throughout the special is Chappelle’s apparent level of self-awareness toward his reputation as a “lazy comedian.”
The most telling point of The Dreamer occurs halfway through when Chappelle starts on a bit about the Titan submersible. Chappelle admits that this joke never plays well on venues on his tour, but does it anyway, a joke that falls flat yet again at the Lincoln Theater in Washington DC. Longtime Chappelle director Stan Lathan does his subject no favors with constant cutaways to an audience that perpetually looks apathetic as joke after joke fails to land. It would be ridiculous to say that Chappelle doesn’t care what people think. His last two specials were entirely consumed with the reception of his work, at great expense to the comedic value of the material itself.
The DC location was ostensibly selected to draw parallels to Chappelle’s first special Killing Them Softly, also filmed at the Lincoln Theater, that propelled him to international stardom. The two decades that have passed since his debut have been kind to him in many ways, but an uncomfortable reality surfaces time and time again. He’s lost his edge.
Predictably, Chappelle spends a lot of time on the Will Smith slap endured by his friend Chris Rock at the Oscars, and on the spectator who attacked him at the Hollywood Bowl back in May. Chappelle squanders his unique perspective on the situation in favor of lazy jokes that lack the sharp timing that once defined his work. More and more, Chappelle just looks like a bored old rich guy out of touch with the industry he so radically helped define.
Comedy is not as kind to its aging stars as performers in other trades. The Rolling Stones can take the stage for two hours playing material that’s fifty years old. Chappelle can’t spend the night repeating bits from Killing Them Softly, even as his disengaged audience might wish that he would. There’s something fundamentally sad about watching Chappelle reflect on how hungry he used to be, while he tries to fill time in a special that often forgets that it’s supposed to be funny.
At times, Chappelle returns to his favorite punching bag, sprinkling a few trans jokes here and there, even as he pretends to claim that he gives people respect no matter what. He’s certainly resentful of the idea that people think he needs trans jokes to stay relevant, but not enough to do anything about it. There are enough shots at the trans community to ensure that the media will cover his new special, but the pickings are pretty thin otherwise.
The discourse that surrounded his last few specials will undoubtedly continue. People will spend the next few weeks playing armchair referee over the perceived boundaries of comedy. None of that matters.
The simple reality that Dave Chappelle’s newfound champions of the political right so conveniently ignore amidst the hornets’ nests that he loves to kick up is that the man has lost a step. The Dreamer isn’t particularly edgy. Instead, the special is something much sadder for a man who once sat at the top of the world. The Dreamer is boring.
Great special! You must not understand comedy. Stop wearing you feeling on your sleeve.
Why would anyone listen you you when you think Chapelle is comedic, I thought jokes wete supposed to be funny
Your life must be so bitter and sad to write this. I feel sorry the family and associates (because you obviously have No friends) that have to spend time near you. How do you bathe without melting? … Do you even bathe?
Great synopsis of a show that I won’t bother seeking out to watch, and am satisfied as to why. Chapelle is a sad, bitter, entitled man who punches down on others to desperately find comradery with the far right to feel a sick level of acceptance. His attacks on LGBTIQ are nothing more than nasty and pathetic.
Here here! I gave it all about 10min., but it wasn’t even worth that.
It was flat out low effort.
Has nothing to do with ‘virtue signaling’ or not getting Chappelle. I’ve watched and loved the man since the comedy central days.
The Dave that provided lighthearted, nuanced, and funny, social commentary seems to be gone.
I wonder what happened to the guy that walked away from a $50million deal for the sake of his own artistic vision? Something changed along the way. Whatever it is, the man has lost touch.
Firstly, you have my deepest sympathy for having had to watch that dreck. Secondly, thanks for your service. Chapelle has found a wonderfully stupid and easily entertained audience of imbeciles for his current schlock, and he clearly has no intent of letting that exceptionally stupid cash cow go. I mean, you only need to use a few buzz words and be conspicuously hateful to get these pine nut brained, questionably sapient lackwits to hang on your every word. Who can blame him and all the other grifthogs in the grifthog ecosystem that’s sprung up around these idiots? They BEG to be lied to every day. Hell, they PAY for it. Chapelle’s just filling a niche. A greasy, horrible niche.
What an amazingly funny special this was!
Comedy and satire is not meant for all.
It’s pathetic when talented people have to attack the most vulnerable to get a laugh, then again and yet again
Dave has become a comedian who’s bigotry seems to make him feel edgy; where as the rest of are just bored with his lack of creativity as he ages.
And all you “alpha” boy’s defending him… he’s not gonna date you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lhuTo07u6E
It was great! F the haters! Dave has one job: to make people laugh. And the majority do. So stfu.
Well said sir. I remember the 0ave from the 90s… before he was a big deal. Great humor, great social and racial commentary.
And the Dave from 20 years ago, the big deal Dave, relevant, edgy, and more important funny.
Good thing I have those memories… today’s Dave, just like Ricky G are lazy and struggling for relevance.
For a man who’s “lost his edge,” he certainly has no problem getting a rise out of prickly, liberal snowflakes like you.
what sensitive little jerks this country is filled with now, crying because people have a difference of opinion on anything …
funny how his commentary was great when is was about race and social justice but when he makes trans jokes liberals gets up in arms over it…
I watched it to the end and didn’t laugh once. His “disabled” jokes were not ironic, neither were the Asian, lgbt or Black jokes. Chapelle’s jokes are not joking. And his philosophical musings hit as narcissistic. Never, did Richard Pryor step out of being funny. And I’d like to challenge him without “n–word” being the punchline. He’s literally not funny.
Holy moly you have a stick so far up your bum that you can’t take a break and just laugh at some dumb jokes?
Whinny ASS THIS SHIT WAS FUNNY AS FAWK
It’s fantastic how snowflakes like you don’t get that the joke is after the special is out. The punchline is watching all of you react as if you were above everyone else, dictating what is laughable one what is not from your middle class morals.
“the dreamer” not only has some great jokes, but also rests in the confidence that even if it were terrible, people like you (always easily offended) will have something to say and make it all work.
And that’s because you can’t keep your ass shut. Now we have 3 months of every wannabe in the LGBTQ+ community complaining and whining and screaming. I’ll go buy popcorn
Read the review again, the author wasn’t outraged or hurt, he was bored.
Silly person. That is a ruse to make it appear that it is an original opinion, based on the quality of the content. But, alas, it is simply a lame attempt to attack Dave from a different angle, since the other protests have only provided him with more fuel.
You soft idiots don’t know satire. God damn you are dumb.
Find a safe place cupcake. You are just another very fake victim craving to be offended. trans jokes are too funny. I love them.
These MSM articles are so predictable. Dave’s special was masterful and less than 5% focused on Trans. Yet these snowflake “writers” acted as if this was all he talked about. It’s as if they wrote the article before the special was even released. As a Black man that identifies as liberal, I stand with you Dave and F**k the haters. 😊
This is absolutely not a mainstream media article (which by the way would be abbreviated as MM).
No, dumbass. Spend all of two minutes Googling and you’ll find that the common abbreviation for Mainstream Media is MSM, not MM. Nice try.
Abraham LIncoln once said, doubtless about something as fatuous as Chapelle, “The people who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.” This was NOT intended to be a compliment. I’m 100% with Ian Thomas Malone on this: “Comedians” whose schtick is mocking vulnerable people will not amuse anyone except those whose tastes [sic] run in that same direction. Those are not good people.
Amazingly honest and thoughtful review. Thank you for such an articulate assessment of Dave’s work, I couldn’t agree more.
He went from being the most intelligent and nuanced comedian and performer esp. on the topic of race to being a right-pandering old rich guy with no relevance or soemthing to offer. He used to brilliantly analyze race and showed how not only evil, but how fundamentally stupid racism is (think the first chappelle show skit about the Black white supremacist). But what’s ironic is he can’t apply one ounce of that nuance to another social construct, gender. He’s pissed that white america has embraced gender liberation over BIPOC liberation and he has a reason to be, it’s true America is more progressive about gender then race, however it’s like this dude has never heard of intersectionality. People being harmed the most due to his comedy are Black trans folks. Regardless of the politics, this was so not funny. Not one giggle. He went from top comedian to where the fuck are the jokes?! he just is sad
Found the fascist.
Such a horrible review. Dave’s stand up is amazing as usual. One of the greatest story tellers. Most of your reviews sucks
Your no PC principal … Dave slays Again!!!
Bad review, this is one of Dave’s better specials in the past decade. Happy new year.
You must be fun at parties! Oh right you never get invited. I wonder why 😂
Damn dude what a sad life you must live. Hope things get better!
this special is comedic gold.. i laughed hard af.. the actual point of standup
Dave is PHENOMENAL!
I especially love that he doesn’t give a care what anyone thinks. He lives and performs on stage as a liberated being. That takes a special bravery. Specifically as a black man.
I appreciate his candor. He’s relentless with it. This is exactly Joe he should be. We should all be so…
I would love to see him perform in person. I’m sure that would be magical.
#dream
How can critics not realize they’re in the 1% that don’t get it?
Go watch my “Honeymooners” skit I did back in the 80’s. I look forward to your head exploding. lol.
I mean, this is perfect. Rather than deal with reality, you’ll live in a bubble. Kinda how we got here in the first place. Reality is undefeated.
My post should read…
This is “how” it should be. Not “Joe”” it should be.
Exactly. When people “want” humor, they can experience it. But when preconceived notions are taking place in one’s head, some tend to “hold the sack” on others.
READY OR NOT… is all I got for the low wattage folk.
Exactly. When people “want” humor, they can experience it. But when preconceived notions are taking place in one’s head, some tend to “hold the sack” on others.
READY OR NOT… is all I got for the low wattage folk.
Exactly.
Give it a rest. You’re offended because he made a few jokes here and there about Trans people, but not one bit offended because he joked about handicapped people. That to me is lazy and disingenuous. I am sure no handicapped people will be whining and crying as much about his jokes as Trans people will be. What he said jokily about trans people is not even closely worse then US conservatives say every single minute.
Give it a rest. You’re offended because he made a few jokes here and there about Trans people, but not one bit offended because he joked about handicapped people. That to me is lazy and disingenuous. I am sure no handicapped people will be whining and crying as much about his jokes as Trans people will be. What he said jokily about trans people is not even closely worse then US conservatives say every single minute.
Lots of ardent defenders for Dave on this thread, puffing out their chests. But they’re on here because they know you’re right. I just watched The Dreamer. It made me sad. In truth, your review is too generous– the level of cynicism and self-absorption here is so bad that it creates a thread back through all of his recent work, call it Petty Chappelle. The bad press has clearly touched a nerve, and the transphobia is really about a truly belabored, fatuous struggle with his own material, and it goes all the way back to Chappelle Show: do, or can, I actually mean this? Why would you think that? I’m just joking! It’s just a fucking joke! Etc. etc. etc. etc. When he did it with the history of Black racism early in his career, he finally hit a breaking point and left the show. Hearing a whole concert hall of people cheering at transphobic jokes because now they mean “we love Dave” is just shameful and sad.
The one thing I disagree with is the idea that Dave has “lost his edge,” whatever that means– not if we judge by 8:46, or, say his SNL monologue after Trump lost. When there is a real issue that he chooses to respond to, few in the U.S. can dissect it better. Rather I think he is shamelessly phoning it in for these Netflix specials, piling up the checks. It may once again be time to leave the show and take some time to reset.
Excuse me ? It was laugh out loud funny? You guys don’t list to this Lara Ingram wanna be
It’s funny 🤣
I think it was a bit funnier and more introspective than you did, but not by much. I’m happy to hear him meander around most topics–not ecstatic, but it wasn’t awful. Just sort of a placeholder, it seemed. Not terribly memorable but I’m not dumber or number than before watching, and that’s a plus these days. I’d give it about a C+/B- and have rated his other special highly. Weird how my comment may be the only non-polarized one. But in truth the special and its content, delivery, etc., are not egregiously bad but nothing to sing joyously about either.
This. This is the comment I was praying to see. Thank you dear stranger, for expressing my thoughts.
Stop being mad cause you a chick with a dick that doesn’t match up to the hog Dave has. He’s the goat. You just sitting on your computer at home critiquing this dudes work, “triggered”. What actual hate has he spread towards the trans community?… You’re a comedian, no? You should know what jokes are and are for… If you spent as much time coming up with shit as hilarious is the bullshit in all your reviews of his comedy on RT, you might actually get somewhere.
Let me guess; You think Chapelle’s not funny at all, but you find Amy Schumer or Lilly Singh to be just about the most hilarious, knee-slapping bestest comedians of all time…It’s so rewarding when a perpetually offended little bubble-girl like yourself gets all up in arms with outrage…
WOW, I guess we watched 2 different shows. The audience was laughing. His material was different this time, I felt like he was allowing the audience in to see him as a person, vs just as a comedian. I enjoyed the special because I didn’t come loaded with anger/hate. You obviously have an issue with Dave and were blinded by your dislike. If you are going to review shows at least be honest. The audience wasn’t laughing? Did you have the volume off?
Did he trigger you? 😂😂
Interesting review, Ian. Given you are part of the alphabet community, I can understand why you would take offense to DC’s “trans” jokes. Admittedly, I think they’re hilarious. Your comment that his audience is becoming tired of his “obsession with gay people” is quite a bit off. You don’t seem to understand his audience very well. You see, it is not that we (his audience) is tired of Dave’s “obsession with gay people”; it is that we are tired of the LGBTG+-= community’s obsession with themselves as the most important people on earth. This is why we continue to laugh at his jokes on the topic. We are tired of you all, not the other way around. Good day.
I’m a big Chapelle fan, but this review is right on the money. It wasn’t funny – and the long story at the end, that’s all it was … long.
Comedy can’t harm anyone. As if his words turn into bullets and gun down the people he jokes about. Give me a break.useY
It wasn’t his best! But so isn’t your writing…
I’m disabled and loved the new special. I’ve worked hard on my insecurities around my disability and Dave gave me another opportunity to work on them / laugh at myself and even make disability a tiny bit less taboo.
Love all the 30 IQ commenters who obviously didn’t even read the review and are here to fight the weakest of strawmen.
Bravo sir 👏🏼
Interesting. As a European it is interesting to watch this experiment gone wild that you have over there. (I mean the US, not ITM).Don’t you also see the perspective that Dave’s stories are what they’ve always been .. interesting stories with a few jokes and often philosophical implications, nice to listen to, making you think .. and ofc they wouldn’t have needed the link to mock Transformers.. seems to me he just does it .. because it is fun to him.. like taking the piss out of someone that you know is easily aroused.. to maybe help that person build some resilience? ..
and if the trans jokes are all there is to criticize from ITM’s perspective, than that only addresses a miniscule amount of the whole special.. .. but I guess that’s where ITM and folks alike seem to be captured by a fanaticism that I hope will not anytime soon be common in Europe.
What drama.. omg… I also find the choice of words and the apparent animosities between the yayers and the nayers in here more than unfortunate.. but that is ‘welcome to the Internet’ in a nutshell I guess..
Wake me up when this drama ends..
This is just such an absurdly one sided and pathetic excuse for a review….I commend the people in the comments who wrote multiple paragraphs….your are not worthy in getting this much attention for such a hit piece
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