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Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Highly Overrated But Still Good

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

So to begin with, as others have pointed out over the years, this is not his finest film. That being said, it's a nice film. 'Nice' being the operative word. It's polite in that way, it's relaxing and doesn't demand anything of its viewer.So if you come at this film with a bare minimum of mental energy, possibly after a few drinks or curled up in bed, you will likely take the maximum enjoyment that can be garnered from this film and its gentle comedy. It's got no big laughs or shocks and will give you a mild smile or a chuckle before you fall asleep.This was pretty much how I watched it and I had a nice time. I wouldn't recommend this to you to watch with all your faculties at optimum level, but keep your expectations low and enjoy it for what it is, because what it is is pretty relaxed silliness.

Callous rich mogul developer Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks) plans to buy an L.A. slum to build his vanity project. Developer Vance Crasswell (Jeffrey Tambor) owns the other half of the property. Vance bets him the property that he couldn't survive in the slums without any of his money for 30 days. Homeless Molly (Lesley Ann Warren) comes to his rescue when two crazy thugs try to rob him.A rich man bets to live as a poor man. Sadly for Mel, it's been done better and funnier. The problem starts with the black kid dancing for money. It's so old that it's cheesy. This sets off the main conflict for me. Is this going to take some real swipes at poverty or is this a broad spoof? It tries to do both and comes up short on both accounts. Just as I grow interested in the mentally disturbed Molly, she says she's faking it. The story takes an interesting turn but the resolution is uninspired. The movie is mostly not funny enough.

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