User reviews

Sure,Eddie Murphy has gotten credit over the years for being the comic genius that he is,but he does not always get proper credit for his movie work.1999's Life is a good example of Murphy getting overlooked.He does great work here,along with Martin Lawrence(whom I am not a huge fan of, but I must give him due credit here)as two men wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment.This is an excellent story,and casting Murphy and Lawrence in the lead roles is nothing short of a perfect idea.I never would have thought of them as a great team,but I was pleasantly surprised here.A must see for any die hard Eddie Murphy fan.

Looking forward to my next viewing of this. Martin Lawrence once again proves that given a co-star to work off he can deliver, and here he does as he gets Eddie Murphy on prime form to work with. It's a very funny and bittersweet picture, a tale of friendship under duress. A great supporting cast fills out the other convict characters. 8/10

Life is a good comedy about 2 men (Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence) who are wrongfully accused of a crime in Mississippi and are sentenced to life in prison. Murphy and Lawrence make one of the best on-screen duo's of the year by acting like they don't like each other, but in reality they need each other to survive. Great laughs and amazing makeup (supplied by Oscar Winner and Oscar nominee for this movie, Rick Baker) make this a must-see for Murphy 1and Lawrence fans, or for anyone looking for a good chuckle. A

If you're not a fan of Eddie Murphy's humor, then skip this one.

The movie begins in modern times, 1997, with the main characters' funerals. The movie then flashes back to 1932 to begin telling their story, and continues as they age in prison in Mississippi.

They were "petty criminals" but were sentenced to life in prison for a murder they did not commit. However, being black in 1930s Mississippi did them no favors. The story that unfolds is irreverent and funny and has enough twists along the way to keep things very interesting.

I can't understand why the average rating of this movie is below "6". I give it "8" of "10" for its overall entertainment value, plus a few "life's little lessons" thrown in. I think it is one of Eddie Murphy's best movies.

OCT 2020 edit: I just watched it again after 20 years, this time on DVD. While most of it was somewhat familiar I had forgotten the last scene in Yankee Stadium.

In 1999, Eddie Murphy continued his comeback* by starring in two very good comedies: "Life" and "Bowfinger". The former casts him and Martin Lawrence as 1930s New Yorkers Ray Gibson and Claude Banks, who drive down to Mississippi and get falsely convicted of murder, thereby getting a life sentence in a prison farm. Over the years, they have a series of experiences, sometimes wacky, sometimes revealing new dimensions to their characters. Obviously, the very thought of a movie starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence sounds like it would have to be pure junk. Looking at the poster, one might think that the whole movie consists of them getting bullied by giant inmates (and there are some scenes like that). But this flick actually has a plot. There's obviously the context of the Jim Crow south - which, believe it or not, leads to a really funny situation at one point. All in all, this is a very well done comedy - silly at times, but definitely worth seeing. We can say with certainty that Ted Demme had a very good track record as a director (he was also behind "The Ref" and "Blow"); too bad he died so young.

*Unfortunately, his last few years have consisted of fare like "I Spy" and "Daddy Day Care".

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence play Ray and Claude, two guys from New York in 1932. Ray is nothing but a hustler and Claude is a guy with a girlfriend and a new job. But when both of the run afoul of a local gangster, they're sent to Mississippi to get some Mississippi Hooch. While down there, they're set up by a white cop for the murder of a black man and sentenced to life in prison. While in prison they try numerous escapes, make some friends, and grow old together.

When you hear that Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are making a film together, you think that this could be the funniest movie ever made. Two talented comedians working side by side, how could it not be? Well, when the story line deals with two black men being put in prison for a crime they didn't commit by a white racist cop, it's hard for a movie to be truly funny. I think the writers were trying to make some sort of social commentary at the same time and while I commend them for that, it wastes the talents of the two stars. They were always shackled by the knowledge that they weren't supposed to be in prison, so there was always that feeling of hatred going on.

Now, that's not to say the movie wasn't funny. At times it was laugh out loud funny. Murphy especially was in fine form with a lot of ad-libs and Lawrence kept right up with him. I was afraid that with two stars such as these two that there might be a problem of egos and who should get more laughs, but they worked well together. And when they were allowed to just go off they made it very funny.

But again the story got in the way. There was a sub-plot of the prison director's daughter getting pregnant by one of the inmates. I didn't really see the point of that. They used the baby for a one minute gag and that was it. The story also seemed choppy. The movie starts in 1932 and ends 60 years later, so it wasn't like they could go start to finish, but it moved along very quickly at times. The makeup effects (by Rick Baker) were incredible. Murphy and Lawrence aged 60 years right before our very eyes.

Life was more of a heartwarming comedy than a straight out comedy. It made you laugh but it also got very serious (especially near the end when the cop who put them in prison came back). Ray and Claude went through a lot of hell that they didn't deserve but they persevered and made it through. When it was funny, it was very funny. But with the story line it was also very serious which I thought restrained the humor. So overall I'd go out and see Life to see how two top comedians work, but don't expect to be rolling in the aisles the entire time.

To say this's an underrated comedy is putting it lightly. This was pretty funny. Not only that, I dare even say it had some good commentary about issues the main characters had to face from not just from back then, but also today. The plot's about 2 guys who end up in jail for a crime they didn't commit after a series of mishaps. Most of the film is them trying to survive in the rough prison run by a racist warden.

Throughout their time there, their friendship is tested in various ways. From failed escape plots, constant antagonism by the warden and his self-hating guard, to bitterness on how they came to be in this awful position. During they sentence, they meet a befriend a colorful cast of characters.

Who knew Eddie Murphy and Martín Lawrence would make a great comedy duo? They play off each other well. Them and the supporting cast.

In regards to the commentary, there're some themes that still resonate today: Homophobia, racism, and resilience in the face of hopelessness and adversity. As funny as it is, it still has a great amount of heart and characters we grow to like too (most of them). I have to admit, they never came off as friend last as the film would like you to believe though. That's just my opinion.

Bottom line, this movie's underrated. Another film the critics got wrong. With that being said, check it out if you have time.

I recently saw LIFE on tv for the first time and I must say I was impressed and most of all SURPRISED. I expected a very rude, crude kind of humor from such "bad boy" actors like Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence-famous for their constant foul mouthing. But LIFE was more of a comedy-drama, that had some very nice sequences, and thankfully was not filled with innuendos, and such. I do know the film has swearing, even though I saw it on tv I can always tell when they're cutting language out of a film, but it still is not as much as one would expect. If you want to have a fun night watching a good film, rent Life. Even if you're not fans of Murphy and Lawrence (which I can't say I am) you will still have a good time. It has an uplifting ending. LIFE believe it or not, is just one of those heart-warming comedy films. Enjoy! 3.5/5 stars

JOHN ULMER

Underrated been in my dvd collection for years. Watched it about 100 times classic

After reading the user comments on this movie, it appears that the main complaint is that it is not the rollicking laugh-a-minute comedy that fans of the two leads expected. Once you let that expectation go, this is a great movie! It succeeds as a drama with comic tone. There have been some great ones that do this, and we mistakenly classify them as comedies. For example, M*A*S*H, Mr. Roberts, It's a Wonderful Life. These are pictures that provide comic overtones to people struggling to get through a very serious and overwhelming event: war, contemplated suicide, and in the case of Life, life imprisonment.

I was surprised at how good Murphy is in this flick.Not one of my favorites, he convinces as he ages and grows under the burden his character carries, that of an entire life stolen from him. And he survives with a certain dignity. Lawrence is almost as good, but he does labor a bit with the dramatic parts, seeming a bit uncomfortable shedding his comic bent. Note that when these characters are shown as old men, Murphy actually becomes an old man, Lawrence is still a young man in oldster's make-up.

Let's not overlook an interesting small role expertly understated by Ned Beatty, and the charm of Bokeem Woodbine as Can't Get Right. Life is well-mounted and the sets are as convincing as any I've seen. Comedies are rarely as dirty and sweaty as this movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this picture, realizing early on that it was a very serious movie wrongly hyped as a comedy.

I watched it today and it seemed the butt of the joke was the black characters themselves. The humor and characterization felt very much like an old school minstrel show, with the most shallow and racist characterizations of those beyond the main characters. I came to IMDB hoping the director and/or writers themselves were black...but no.

I cannot even begin to count how many `comedies' I have sat through that try to reach for the `timeless' formula by interjecting some lame dramatics to engage the audience even more than the comedy ever could. It's a practice as old as time in Hollywood. Most of these movies fail miserably.

You leave the theater thinking `It was funny enough, why couldn't it just stay silly?' My friends, I'm with you on every page. It's a slippery slope to juggle the two genres.

`Life' is the millionth attempt at warm-hearted comedy. It tries to make you pee your pants with its jokes, and yet slap your emotions around with the drama. And damn the odds, it fits like a glove. `Life' is also a film that defies much criticism. You either love stars Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, or you don't. I'm in the first category. As the main characters, the two comedians prove just how valuable they are. Murphy is coming off a uniquely horrific year. `Dr. Dolittle' was a smash, but a career setback to say the least. `Holy Man' was an unmitigated disaster, but one that didn't effect Murphy with any real damage. The greatest gift `Life' gives to Murphy is a chance to show off range. Murphy is a very talented actor, and this movie makes you wish he would try a straight drama for once. Murphy can be devastatingly funny. But he can also be very dramatically convincing. With each new movie, Murphy grows as an actor. I really think he's set for brighter things. Martin Lawrence shares many of the same attributes as Murphy. He's terribly funny, and yet able to win your heart with a depth most comedians don't have. `Life' has Lawrence with the quieter role. He uses that chance to provide the film with a backbone. He eventually comes out the best rounded character in the fractured storytelling. It's a good performance, but even better, it's a brilliant pairing with Eddie Murphy. The two are seamlessly funny. Squeezing every moment for comic and emotional juice. It's refreshing to watch a movie with two actors who seem to be trying something different, all the while living up to previous expectations. Ted Demme is a solid director, a thought that immediately puts me in the minority. His `Who's The Man?' was a strictly silly romp, but was actually funny. `The Ref' was the critically lauded and sharp black comedy. `Beautiful Girls' is a film that every time I sit down to watch, feels as comfortable as an old cardigan. He's yet to falter in my eyes. I like his attention to detail, and his gift for trusting his actors. `Life' wouldn't work as well as it does without a specific amount of direction and free will. Demme manages to keep the film on track without ever succumbing to an over-reliance on improv. The best scenes in `Life' are the quiet ones: the gay inmate who's release from prison provides a dilemma, the passage of time montage, and Lawrence's moment with the freshly baked pies(which is actually comical, but who's counting?). The film seems like it was longer at one point, but the film on display here really pleased me. I would recommend this film to anybody that has lost faith in Eddie Murphy.------------- 9

Rayford Gibson and Claude Banks travel south and get ripped off in a card game . Later that evening the two men stumble upon the body of the card shark and find themselves convicted of his murder for which they're sent down for life

I came to this movie expecting to detest every minute of it . Eddie Murphy is a comedy actor who was a big star for five minutes circa 1984 then thankfully disappeared while I find Martin Lawrence almost unwatchable in everything he has ever done . I was also expecting every single syllable to feature the F word and while there is strong language it's thankfully kept to a moderate level and both Murphy and Lawrence do their utmost best at making Gibson and Banks fairly likable

Some people have described this movie as " The black Shawshank Redemption " and I can see where they're coming from . Both both main protagonists are innocent and find themselves doing hard time for a murder they didn't commit andas they walk into prison we're treated to a voice over with the story spanning several decades though the structure is vague enough to stop LIFE being an out and out parody of SHAWSHANK . Where the film works best is in the early scenes set in prison . Be honest and ask yourself what would be the scariest thing ? The violence ? The unwanted sexual attention ? These things are touched upon though not nearly enough and the film starts becoming to its detriment more and more sentimental the further it goes on

A somewhat patchy prison movie but considering I thought I was going to hate every single moment before even watching it I was slightly surprised as to how entertained I was during its duration . By no means a classic LIFE does have some amusing moments

Sentenced to life in prison after they are wrongfully convicted of murder, two would-be bootleggers gain popularity among their inmates for their repeated escape attempts in this lively comedy. Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence bounce well off one another in the main roles with a friendship that gets worn and tested throughout. The real fun of the film only begins though after the one-hour mark with the film fast-forwarding several decades to focus on Murphy and Lawrence as old men, still sticking it to the same warden (played by Nick Cassavetes) and still as youthful as ever when it comes to plotting escapes and egging one another on. The makeup effects to age Murphy, Lawrence and Cassavetes are nothing short of remarkable too and were deservedly nominated for an Academy Award at the time. That said, the first hour of the film is not without merit. There is a highly memorable "I am Spartacus!" parody as a governor tries to work out which inmate has fathered his daughter's baby and a darkly comical letter-from-home reading session. Some of the initial scenes (before they are imprisoned) work well too, with a special mention to a scene in which the duo unsuccessfully try to purchase a pie. And yet, there is little denying that the final third of the film is by far the juiciest section, topped off with an ending that is hard to forget. For a laugh-out-loud and totally enthralling Eddie Murphy comedy, 'Bowfinger' is a safer better, but this other 1999 effort from the Oscar nominated star is not half-bad, even if it only achieves greatness towards the end.

Excellent, simply brilliant.

One of the most funniest films I have seen.

I have seen this so many times and I don't understand why it has only scored a 6/10!

I always think that story lines that cover a large chunk of the characters' lives are always very interesting as the audience gets to see how they evolve and change with age. All of the characters pull this off - over the years we see Ray (Eddie Murphy) change from a young confident individual who never gives up hope to a tired old grouchy man who is hard of hearing; but its never sad. Even when the characters are riddled with old age the humour is still fantastic.

Eddie Murphy is surprisingly good is an essentially straight role in the late Ted Demme's derivative movie about two long-term prisoners, 'Life'. 'Life' rips off 'Cool Hand Luke', 'The Shawshank Redemption', and even 'Spartacus', as well as countless "buddy-buddy" pictures: original it ain't. It also paints a surprisingly soft picture of life in gaol, and the trick where after a brief montage of historic events, we're suddenly told that 27 years have passed only for an unchanged cast to appear, now hobbling, before us, seems a bit crude. The film is watchable and in places funny, but there's little to see that you won't have seen elsewhere.

I found this film funny and inventive. Two adjectives that I have not been able to use for an Eddie Murphy film for a long time.

With a story line as good as this one, it was up to Eddie to see how he could develop it. If this film had a flaw, I think this was it. I believe had Mr Murphy decided to look really deeply into the role of Rayford Gibson, it could have been a possible "Oscar" role for him.

There are no doubts regarding Eddie Murphy's acting ability, yet sometimes I think he sacrifices the script and his role for a cheap laugh when it's not really necessary. It is possible that he is caught up in his own 'identity creation' of "Eddie Murphy: Comedy first, drama...maybe not!"

That said, Eddie Murphy and his worthy partner, Martin Lawrence successfully produce a comedy worth watching. I just hope that Eddie Murphy continues in this same vein. Please no more films like Beverly Hills Flop 3 and Holy Man!

Finally, a general point, which needs to be addressed, is that it is so strange how comedy films with far more substance, fail to do well financially. Moreover, there are films which fall short in quality, that can generate $100M+ for substandard, regurgitated, "comedy". "Life" which is struggling to reach the $65M mark falls into the former category. "Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me" and "Big Daddy" definitely fall in the latter. The mind boggles!

Anyway, for those who have not seen "Life", go and see, you won't regret watching it.

Life (1999) is a movie we recently watched together as a family and I originally saw in the theatres upon its release. The storyline focuses on two friends trying to make a buck who get arrested and thrown in southern prison for something they didn't do. The story follows the people they meet while serving life in prison and the hijinks the two best friends get into. This movie is directed by Ted Demme (Blow) and stars Eddie Murphy (Coming to America), Martin Lawrence (Bad Boys), Bernie Mac (Bad Santa), Nick Cassavetes (Wraith), Anthony Anderson (The Departed), Guy Torry (American History X) and Ned Beatty (Superman). The storyline for this movie is so well written from beginning to end. You get lost in the dynamic characters, their consistent fabulous dialogue and the interactions and the chemistry between the entire cast. The comedic content is on point and the storyline is entertaining and well paced. There is really nothing to not like about this movie; and while not Murphy's best film, it is an underrated one in his collection. I'd score this a 10/10.

Is this really a comedy, or a commentary on the South? It's kind of hard considering the seriousness the last act adopts, but overall, this film proved to be rather endearing. Its obvious the film was advertised poorly, simply because it should have earned more money at the box office. I've never liked Martin Lawrence, but some reason, his performance was really beside himself. Eddie Murphy also brought a lot to the table. Not the best of films, but one that had just enough of everything to keep me interested.

It's 1932. Rayford Gibson (Eddie Murphy) is a fast talking petty criminal. Straight laced Claude Banks (Martin Lawrence) just got a job as a bank teller. Neither got the money to pay their bills at Spanky Johnson's , and they end up doing a rum run for him. Ray loses his beloved daddy's watch in a crooked card game. When the cops kill the crook, Ray and Claude get blamed for the murder and life in prison.

Martin Lawrence is playing somebody truly idiotic picking a fight with white folks in 30's Mississippi. Eddie Murphy isn't any more likable as the petty schemer. I guess some people may find this comedy duo funny. I just find them alternating between annoying and bearable. The characters have no chemistry at all. They are literally slap dashed together. This movie isn't really a comedy. There isn't anything funny here. Yet it's not gritty enough to be realistic. It occupies a space in between where it's mostly boring.