Life Stinks (1991)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Powerful

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

When you hear or see the name 'Mel Brooks', your mind usually tells you to laugh and think of his spoof comedy work, including 'Blazing Saddles', 'Spaceballs', 'Young Frankenstein', and 'Robin Hood: Men In Tights'. There are many other films that fall into this spoof category that Brooks has made, but back in 1991, Mel wrote, produced, and directed a dramatic movie with comedy elements. It was more of an experimental film for him, as he wanted to explore other genres and make a satire of the class system in America.This movie was called 'Life Stinks', and unfortunately it was met with unfavorable reviews and even worse box office receipts. Don't get me wrong, there are a few slapstick moments, but they don't come often, and is a sidestep from the director's usual line of work. In short though, 'Life Stinks' just doesn't work all that well. The usual funny dialogue Mel writes for his parody films just doesn't fit into this movie, and the way the script is written to make jokes about the homeless people and their families, simply doesn't work. A good example of how to shed light on these subjects was with the film 'Trading Places'.It seems like Mel wanted to make the same movie, but was incapable of producing something of that valor that perfectly mixes comedy and drama, while shedding light on the lower class and homeless people of America. Mel stars as Goddard Bolt, a billionaire businessman who is planning on tearing down all the slums in Los Angeles, only to build high end condos and shops. The catch is that he only owns half of the land. The other half belongs to a man named Vance (Jeffrey Tambor), who doesn't want to sell.Hell-bent on his plan, Bolt makes a bet with Vance that if he can survive for 30 days in the slums on his own without leaving, Vance will sell him his half of the land for super cheap. The bet is on, and Bolt heads to the slums under three rules, including, he has to be penniless, he cannot leave the slums, and he can't tell anyone who he really is. Throughout this 30 days, Bolt learns all the life lessons he never knew, mostly being that being rich and having material things isn't what life is all about. Meanwhile, Vance has a sinister scheme in play that will destroy Bolt.'Life Stinks' could have been a better film if was written and executed in a different way. The slapstick comedy and the intent on trying to bring laughs to issues such as homelessness, just doesn't work with this movie. The dialogue is painfully bad, and the characters are clichés of themselves. That all being said, you have to give Mel Brooks some points for stepping outside his realm to make something different than his usual shtick.

Let me just start this review by saying that Life Stinks is an underrated movie.It is not your traditional Mel Brooks movie, but it is funny nevertheless.He also makes a social commentary with this movie, which is always a good thing.In the plot Mel plays Goddard Bolt, a very rich man.He isn't the nicest man around, as rich men often aren't.He wants to own an entire slum area in LA so that he can tear it down.His biggest rival Vance Crasswell also has interest on that area, so they make a bet.Bolt has to survive for 30 days on those streets, and the area is his.His street name is Pepto.He meets some interesting people on the streets, one of them being a woman called Molly.After the experience he's not the same man at all.Mel Brooks directed, produced and acted the lead of Life Stinks (1991).With Mel there's an amazing cast.Lesley Ann Warren plays Molly.Jeffrey Tambor is Crasswell.Stuart Pankin portrays Pritchard.Howard Morris plays the part of Sailor.Theodore Wilson plays Fumes.Rudy De Luca is J. Paul Getty.Carmen Filpi is Pops, with his eleven's up.There are a number of funny moments in this film.I really enjoyed when Mel does the little dance on the street trying to get people toss some coins.And it's funny when Pepto is beaten pretty badly.It's not funny that he's beaten, but his electronic anklet starts making noise when he gets outside the boundaries of the slum area.The poor man tries to get his foot on the sidewalk in order to keep it down.There's also some sadness when he finds Sailor dead on the sidewalk.But things don't go smoothly at his funeral when they get his ashes on them.It's nice when Pepto and Molly have their little Fred and Ginger moment.And then he starts taking her clothes off.And she has A LOT of clothes.And it's hilarious when Pepto and the J. Paul Getty character do the Three Stooges routine, when the other claims that he's the world's richest man.And check out the battle of the dinosaurs in the end.Or those dinosaurs are actually construction cranes.More people should find this movie.Maybe it's not one of Mel's masterpieces, but it's still pretty darn funny.Life on the streets can be tragic, but Brooks has turned the funny side of it.Life stinks, but a little less with Mel Brooks.

...this is a classic with so many great dialogs and scenes nobody should miss. Nice story, funny riches-to-rags situations, Mel Brooks is not a bad lead, maybe not perfect but he is funny ;D Don't pay attention to the rating, it's BS. Watch it, then watch something like final destination (2009) and tell me that Life Stinks deserves about the same rating. If you do, I don't think we can be friends XD At this point I recommend the fourth season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to every Brooks fan ;) Vote 10 against the ignorant opinions of inchworms! I've to make 10 lines here to post a comment? I don't wanna write a book here :P

Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks) is a wealthy businessman who doesn't understand why cutting down a rainforest or tearing down an old folks home might create problems, if such a thing is counter to his plans. He lives in a mansion and has three lawyers at his beck and call. However, he only owns half of a homeless neighborhood in LA and he wants it all, greedy man! Of course, his plans are to raze what's there and make a new neighborhood in its place. Although Bolt is willing to buy the other half of the neighborhood, the present owner convinces Bolt to do things a little differently. If Bolt can live for 30 days, as he has bragged, in the rundown neighborhood, he will win the land. If Bolt can't make it, he'll forfeit his own land. Bolt is game. He lands in the neighborhood and begins a journey to experience life as a homeless vagrant. Can he really survive this treacherous territory? This movie has some good ideas and some good scenes. Watch Brooks try to earn some money by tapdancing or attack his opponent with a construction shovel and you will be laughing plenty. But, the overall film is just average. It takes a good look at the homeless and the instrinsic worth of a human being, yes. But, the humor is just not there in abundance, unlike other Brooks' movies. Brooks tries hard, though, and Warren is winning as the most beautiful homeless woman ever on screen. If you like Mel Brooks, do not shy away from this film. Just be prepared to sit down to an only mildly entertaining film and one that is not particularly memorable.