Chris Rock: Tamborine
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 14, 2018
User Score
4.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 63
  3. Negative: 28 out of 63

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User Reviews

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  1. ourman
    Feb 15, 2018
    5
    Frankly it felt forced. Like he was trying to remember how to make people laugh and there really wasn't that many laughs. Compare this to his old stand up where people are crying with laughter. He looked different, sounded different, that laugh seemed fake. So much of what he covered has been covered to death already.

    The divorce stuff has the most potential but didn't go deep enough.    Frankly it felt forced. Like he was trying to remember how to make people laugh and there really wasn't that many laughs. Compare this to his old stand up where people are crying with laughter. He looked different, sounded different, that laugh seemed fake. So much of what he covered has been covered to death already.

    The divorce stuff has the most potential but didn't go deep enough. He's clearly moved on from the more shocking comedy of his youth and that's great...but he's not sure where to go yet. Needs more light and shade to make it work. This didn't feel right and he looks like he knew it.    … Expand
  2. shoulderoforion
    Feb 20, 2018
    5
    not great. man said he was tryin to make back that divorce money right out in the open, and this special feels like it. the "women, children, & dogs" routine struck a sour note, and it wasn't helped by him repeating it a hundred times. not great.
  3. CAmoviegoer
    Feb 19, 2018
    4
    Chris Rock came across more as a cynical, angry divorcee than his usual insightful, bitingly funny self. I think he should have waited a few more years after getting divorced before he did a show on Netflix. He came across as bitter and his outlook on all woman is truly bleak. Apparently, all women are spiteful, gold digging, housewives who manipulate and steal. Brutal. I’ll give himChris Rock came across more as a cynical, angry divorcee than his usual insightful, bitingly funny self. I think he should have waited a few more years after getting divorced before he did a show on Netflix. He came across as bitter and his outlook on all woman is truly bleak. Apparently, all women are spiteful, gold digging, housewives who manipulate and steal. Brutal. I’ll give him points for putting himself out there and being incredibly honest. It’s just unfortunate that what he had to say was so stereotypical and misogynistic.… Expand
  4. sissi_stess
    Feb 24, 2018
    4
    So disappointed, it's more like a random person speaking about everything and nothing and forgetting to be a comedian. The few successful jokes get lost in the sea of nothing
  5. trevzero
    Jun 22, 2018
    2
    AMAZINGLY, Christopher Rock manages to monotonously perpetuate the ridiculously overplayed race card but without even being funny... (and this is one person that enjoys some good ethnicity comedy, Esp the way George Lopez used to hate on Whites until he found out he was mostly Tribal American and European) AND if one wants to use comedy as therapy, maybe the trauma should be resolved atAMAZINGLY, Christopher Rock manages to monotonously perpetuate the ridiculously overplayed race card but without even being funny... (and this is one person that enjoys some good ethnicity comedy, Esp the way George Lopez used to hate on Whites until he found out he was mostly Tribal American and European) AND if one wants to use comedy as therapy, maybe the trauma should be resolved at least a little before airing it to the world. IE, the way Christopher Titus did. AND if you want to make fun of religion, all is fair, but again, it should probably be funny and not a monologue of your seemingly shallow survey of world religions. A monotone, lifeless tragedy belching the contemporary political mantra of hating whites and Trump. At least know what direction you are headed before pulling at the wind.… Expand
  6. Scraper
    Feb 16, 2018
    2
    Common edgy jokes like "The police should shoot a white kid once in a while" feel like a joke a hacky black comedian would come up with, not a crafty veteran like Rock. The whole thing feels late in the game as we search for someone with more insightful, creative material. Rock seems jaded, not excited and motivated as he takes on every heavy topic in the headlines as well as his personalCommon edgy jokes like "The police should shoot a white kid once in a while" feel like a joke a hacky black comedian would come up with, not a crafty veteran like Rock. The whole thing feels late in the game as we search for someone with more insightful, creative material. Rock seems jaded, not excited and motivated as he takes on every heavy topic in the headlines as well as his personal life. Some points for bravery but there's not much to laugh about here.… Expand
  7. Solaras
    Feb 23, 2018
    0
    Turned it off after his idea of a world of equality would be more white kids getting shot. Just wow. Couple that with blatant blanket racism and you get Chris Rock Special.One of the worst comedian specials I have ever seen. The whole point of comedy is to get laughs, you can say just about anything as long as it's funny. This was not even remotely funny.
  8. SCnurse
    Feb 21, 2018
    0
    How is it ok to joke that white kids need to get shot in the name of "equality?" I have always been a fan of Chris Rock, but this went too far. Its not ok for ANY kids to get shot, and in the wake of so many school shootings, this was in such poor taste.
  9. kindnessmatters
    Feb 17, 2018
    0
    This is the first and last skit I will watch by Chris Rock. It was incredibly distasteful and hate-provoking. Hoping that white kids get killed? In light of recent events, this racist production should be removed from Netflix.
  10. TheTermy
    Feb 17, 2018
    0
    It’s a racist show. If a white comedian did anything close to this their career would be over. If Netflix finances something like this again, I will no longer be a customer.
  11. insickness
    Feb 23, 2018
    2
    This special is mildly entertaining. Rock talks about his divorce right before lecturing the audience about what you 'gotta' do in a relationship. "You gotta f*ck your woman!" he yells at the audience. Why are we getting relationship advice from a guy that just destroyed his?
  12. FranklyNunyaBiz
    Feb 23, 2018
    0
    As a former fan of his I'm sorely disappointed to see him even suggesting that white kids should be shot to attain equality. He displays his utter ignorance on some of the issues he talks about which is a stark contrast to his past material.
  13. maxxing
    Apr 28, 2018
    10
    Wow. There are a lot of deeply racist people in this review section. Chris Rock gives a poignant and honest portrayal of the black experience in this comedy special, one of his best observations "Black men aren't an endangered species -- because endangered species are protected by the government.” Anyone in this comment section who is saying things like "talking about race is divisive" orWow. There are a lot of deeply racist people in this review section. Chris Rock gives a poignant and honest portrayal of the black experience in this comedy special, one of his best observations "Black men aren't an endangered species -- because endangered species are protected by the government.” Anyone in this comment section who is saying things like "talking about race is divisive" or "why does he always have to talk about race" are a part of the problem. Racism is a part of his experience, Chris Rock didn't ask for racism, no black person asked to be enslaved, imprisoned, or segregated.… Expand
  14. dorout
    Mar 22, 2018
    0
    I'm not even a conservative/republican/right-winged individual and I couldn't continue watching this abomination of a "comedy" special. I am all for outrageous humor; the sad thing is this is anything but humor. It sounds like another bought and paid for echo chambered celebrity to impose their pre-purchased garbage that I don't want to hear about.

    The old Chris Rock was great. This    I'm not even a conservative/republican/right-winged individual and I couldn't continue watching this abomination of a "comedy" special. I am all for outrageous humor; the sad thing is this is anything but humor. It sounds like another bought and paid for echo chambered celebrity to impose their pre-purchased garbage that I don't want to hear about.

    The old Chris Rock was great. This hallow and manipulated person is terrible.    … Expand
  15. OlivierPiel
    Mar 19, 2018
    2
    I saw the show 3 weeks ago and can not remember anything funny. Anger is the feeling that seeped through every pore of Chris Rock. Sounded more like the sad soliloquy of a drunken guy at 3 am in a bar than anything else. **** about women, cops, kids...Rather underwhelming. Can't understand why critics rate it so highly except that he is black and not Cosby. Chapelle was a tad better I thought.
  16. R2DAJ
    Feb 20, 2018
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow. I love Chris Rock! Or loved Chris Rock. I am so tired of race having a wedge driven in to create a divide. It is disgusting. I was excited to watch this comedy special and it just made me sick, so one dimensional. It’s not universally funny, race jokes can be funny but not when forced. I have wished there were more Chris rock movies and comedy as of the last few years and now I know why there isn’t any. Sad when Kevin hart is funnier than one of the best ever.… Expand
  17. vibeway
    Mar 2, 2018
    0
    Revelation. What we learned from this special is that Chris Rock is mean-spirited, a hard-core racist, a sexual pervert and entirely unable to be funny without every other word being profanity, and even then he is rarely funny. This was a self-indulgent mess, the end of a career.
  18. nasiresco
    Feb 26, 2018
    0
    I loved this special...it was a grown man stand up and hilarious if you have been married or are currently married. Im currently married and everything he said was the absolute truth hilarious. Its not wam bam comedy...its mature comedy. Respect to you Chris me and the wife loved it. I was dying.
  19. brockcheese
    Apr 20, 2020
    8
    A solid special about race and fatherhood, understanding what’s right in today’s America. A very good special that makes you think about how we treat other human beings.
  20. Leeham
    May 30, 2018
    6
    Uneven, Chris Rock's Tamborine is only intermittently funny and lacking in the observations that have made his work genius-like in the past. Surprisingly, he doesn't look at his most comfortable here and one wonders if that's due to his material or the way it's been organised here by, director, Bo Burnham. Disappointing.
  21. 2morovian
    Feb 17, 2019
    0
    I am a died-in-the-wool Chris Rock fan and this is the worst piece of **** ANY comedian has ever done, not just him. He's totally lost his edge and his creativity. He's apparently run out of new material, so he's really pushing the "hate whitey" thing, which in this case, isn't even funny...it's divisive, regressive and pathetic. In the past, he has handled the "white" subject withI am a died-in-the-wool Chris Rock fan and this is the worst piece of **** ANY comedian has ever done, not just him. He's totally lost his edge and his creativity. He's apparently run out of new material, so he's really pushing the "hate whitey" thing, which in this case, isn't even funny...it's divisive, regressive and pathetic. In the past, he has handled the "white" subject with unbelievable agility and gut-wrenching humor. This is just digging into the current victim-left politics for a laugh, but it actually sucks. He's also working a lot of old jokes into this show, with a slight twist and it's just sad. Time to hang it up, Chris. You're embarrassing yourself and you're done.… Expand
  22. mefzeldernx
    Mar 10, 2018
    5
    Chris Rock vuelve a los escenarios en un nuevo especial de stand-up de Netflix, el aclamado actor vuelve con esa personalidad exclusiva al género que le dio el puntapié inicial a su carrera.
    Es difícil calificar ésta actividad, ya que al ser la producción tan simple es necesario compenetrarse con la narración. No es uno de los mejores shows de Chris, pero tiene sus momentos que producen    Chris Rock vuelve a los escenarios en un nuevo especial de stand-up de Netflix, el aclamado actor vuelve con esa personalidad exclusiva al género que le dio el puntapié inicial a su carrera.
    Es difícil calificar ésta actividad, ya que al ser la producción tan simple es necesario compenetrarse con la narración. No es uno de los mejores shows de Chris, pero tiene sus momentos que producen risas.
    Hay mejores shows en Netflix pero si te agrada el famoso bien vale la pena verlo, hay muchas chances que te haga reír y pasar una buena hora.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best TV Season of 2018
46
#46 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Dennis Perkins
    Feb 15, 2018
    75
    The first half of the show finds Rock mining for outraged laughs in topics like police shootings, racism, bullying, and (inextricably linked to all three) the rise of Donald Trump with practiced skill. ... The second half of Tamborine is both weaker and paradoxically more riveting.
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  2. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Matt Wilstein
    Feb 15, 2018
    80
    The Chris Rock of Tamborine is a man in the middle of a life transition. He’s less brazenly confident than he was in his younger days, humbled at least a bit by nearly losing the right to see his own children. But while he may have been brought low as a husband and father, Rock’s powers as a comedian have not been diminished.
    Read full review
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Feb 15, 2018
    80
    Rock is as good a writer as it’s possible for a comedian to be without sounding written. He’s in fine form in Tamborine.
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