Life Reviews
February 1, 2012
"Life" is appropriately named because the film feels like a sentence distributed by a judge that loves cruel and unusual punishment. The film is not funny so it fails in the comedy department, doesn't manage to pull your heartstrings so it fails in the dramatic department and is at times offensive, with way too much unecessary racist jokes and slang. The characters are too stupid to be loveable and seems to last an eternity due to it's terribly slow pace. The makeup effects (particularly the ageing on Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy) are good but are wasted in this film. (VHS, January 2012)
January 3, 2013
This film started out really well with a nice "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" feel to it, but it unfortunately gets overly maudlin by trying to stretch the story over decades when it was a far more enjoyable and lively film if it had stayed a period piece. There's a terrific supporting cast that includes Nick Cassavetes, Anthony Anderson, Bernie Mac, Bokeem Woodbine, Ned Beatty, Clarence Williams III, R. Lee Ermey and many other recognizable faces. However, the weak dramatic elements drag down the funny parts and the clever banter between Murphy and Martin. Also, I simply do not understand Eddie Murphy's weird fascination with ridiculous amounts of make-up in nearly all of his films.
November 21, 2012
An enjoyable and in my opinion underrated movie. Both leads were entertaining throughout.
November 7, 2012
One of the FUNNIEST movies of the year. This HYSTERICAL comedy gives a whole new meaning to friends for life.
October 31, 2012
The death penalty would've been far less cruel in this drama that was advertised as a funny comedy.
September 2, 2012
"Hey, girl! You gonna eat yo' cornbread?"
It's humor is erratic and maybe a little too long but it's still a damn sight better than any of that Nutty Doolittle stuff.
"Hey, girl! You gonna eat yo' cornbread?"
August 25, 2012
Is this meant to be a comedy or a drama? In either case the film seemed to lack any major climax or conclusion and just meanders around for about 2 hours hoping the comedy of Murphy and Lawrence will work. Sadly, it does not.
July 8, 2012
An intriguing and hilarious look at the lives of two inmates mistakenly imprisoned forever.
February 12, 2012
One of the funniest movies of the 1990s! Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are down right hilarious! While this film was definitely more buddy movie than prison movie, it delivered well. A lot of things could have been better but Murphy and Lawrence played well off each other. Murphy was great as the fast talking Ray Gibson and Lawrence was good as the meek but proud Claude Banks. The other characters, from Willie Long, Jangle Leg, and Biscuit were great as well. Toward the end, you almost feel for Gibson and Banks given they were wrongfully imprisoned. However, they did make the best of their situation. The supporting cast no doubt was the strongest part of this film. Definitely worth seeing again.
Charlie
April 29, 2012
The best comedies are usually the ones that most people today dont get the gist of because you have to think about it instead of just outright expecting to laugh.
I have this movie on my DVR and i watch it at least 3 times a week.
This movie is great and insanely underrated and ignored for the simple fact that it takes place in a southern prison in the early to mid 20th Century....and because two of the best comedians of my lifetime ARENT potty-mouthed and joke after joke.
The best comedies are usually the ones that most people today dont get the gist of because you have to think about it instead of just outright expecting to laugh.
I have this movie on my DVR and i watch it at least 3 times a week.
April 15, 2012
This film is very underrated. It has elements of "Harlem Nights"(critically panned) and "The Shawshank Redemption"(critically acclaimed). It even reminds me a bit of the HBO film "Soul of the Game". Very neat. I wouldn't mind watching this again from time to time should it randomly pop out in cable TV or wherever, its replay value, for me, is high. Most critics got disappointed in this joint because they felt Eddie Murphy got soft, but they don't get it; the film's premise is supposed to be dark and desperate, we shouldn't be laughing that much yet Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence actually delivered on the funny aspect. Yet the film still kept its dark tone present. Just like "Shawshank Redemption", it treated life in jail with respect, warmth and hope while maintaining some semblance of realism, mind you.
