the movie had a mixed reception from critics. "los angeles times" wrote that despite "cb4" having been "one of the more adventurous of the recent african-american comedies, it still gets bogged down in those movie-movie formulas, those phony recipes for success." "the new york times"' janet maslin wrote that the film "promises sharper satire than it actually delivers. pandering a shade too avidly to the real rap audience, the film sometimes tries to use the same sexist, mean-spirited ethos it makes fun of."