Filmed in New York in 1999, Chris Rock’s Bigger & Blacker is a rapid fire verbal assault that will have you crying with laughter. As usual with Rock nothing is sacred and he unloads in his usual rapid fire delivery. The fact that this feature only goes for an hour is unbelievable given the amount of gags he squeezes in.

I'm go beat up the fool who tol' me dem lies.

Chris’s humour is topical and very matter-of-fact and at no time does he ever come across as if he is preaching or has some sort of political agenda when he addresses issues like racism, politics, gun control (Trainspotters will note the riff about guns that was included in Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine) and relationships. He tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches.

I often found myself laughing no matter how wrong the subject matter may have been. But that’s his style and it works and as long as the world keeps on screwing itself up then Rock is always going to have to something to make fun of, by pointing out the absurdity of it all.

Shot for cable TV the video is perfectly acceptable. The image is a little soft overall which is a by-product of the straight NTSC to PAL conversion, other than that there are no other anomalies to cause any concern.

The audio that accompanies the feature is in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Encoded track. The effect placing you in the middle of the live venue to soak in the fits of laughter that the crowd is in from start to finish. Chris is as clear as bell even when he is screaming and the audio holds up without distorting.

This ain't no McDonalds burger.

Chris Rock may not be for everyone but he is by far one of the funniest men in the business at present. In my opinion he is filling the void Eddie Murphy left behind when he went all kiddie with his films and sadly Richard Pryor before he was struck down with Multiple Sclerosis. Granted, Rock is doing more of the same that these greats were doing when he was still in diapers. It is all about the delivery and here Rock is a pure showman leaving the crowd on the floor with barely enough time to catch their breath.