Life Stinks

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Life Stinks

PG-13

1991

1h 35m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

25%

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20 Reviews

46%

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5,000+ Ratings

Affluent and arrogant businessman Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks), feuding with rival Vance Crasswell (Jeffrey Tambor) over a land deal, makes a bet with Crasswell that he has the wits and street smarts to live penniless and anonymous on the rough streets of Los Angeles for 30 days. But Bolt has a rude awakening when the reality of homelessness hits him. Still, he finds a silver lining in a burgeoning romance with Molly (Lesley Ann Warren), a former Broadway dancer who has fallen on hard times.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

It’s materialist comedy in the best sense of the word, and when it leads to slapstick involving Thorazine in an overcrowded hospital, Brooks truly hits his stride.

Rated: 2/4

May 24, 2022

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It may take more skill and intelligence to live without money than to make and spend a great deal of it, and that is the buried message of Life Stinks, a warmhearted new comedy from Mel Brooks.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Jan 1, 2000

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It’s difficult to dismiss the simplicity and sweetness of the ludicrously rich discovering a new perspective on impoverishment - no matter how unlikely and caricaturized it is here.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 21, 2024

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Supposedly a comedy about humiliation and misery, presented with almost sadistic insensibility. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 4, 2023

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Harriet Waugh

The Spectator

Lurches from a shocking reality into sentimentality and then to a finale in which it only takes a fairy Goddard to wave his lovely dollar wand and all the derelicts and poor of Los Angeles can live happily ever after in low-cost housing.

Jul 19, 2018

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Julian S

Devoted fans of Brooks’ bolder screwball comedies may feel a tad disappointed, but LIFE STINKS retains a distinct and memorable charm.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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Audience Member

While a large part of me really wants to recommend this movie, the other, more thoughtful half, absolutely cannot. The first few minutes are actually pretty enjoyable, as most movies should be, but once you get into the first half, you realize that there's a whole hour left. I found myself sitting silently watching this instead of laughing aloud at every joke like I expected. Definitely not a fun watch.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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Rick T

Funny with a happy ending, and you can't beat that!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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Audience Member

This movie had like 1 or 2 good jokes so that isn’t saying much, but I think it’s still an interesting Mel Brooks movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/24

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Alec B

Brooks' heart is in the right place here and while the movie definitely has problems I think it is better than its reputation. Honestly I prefer Brooks trying something new rather than just making another spoof.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Steve D

...so does the film. Not a laugh to be had.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Mel Brooks

Director

Mel Brooks

Goddard Bolt

Lesley Ann Warren

Molly

Jeffrey Tambor

Vance Crasswell

Stuart Pankin

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Synopsis

Affluent and arrogant businessman Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks), feuding with rival Vance Crasswell (Jeffrey Tambor) over a land deal, makes a bet with Crasswell that he has the wits and street smarts to live penniless and anonymous on the rough streets of Los Angeles for 30 days. But Bolt has a rude awakening when the reality of homelessness hits him. Still, he finds a silver lining in a burgeoning romance with Molly (Lesley Ann Warren), a former Broadway dancer who has fallen on hard times.

Director: Mel Brooks
Producer: Mel Brooks
Screenwriter: Mel Brooks, Rudy De Luca, Steve Haberman
Production Co: Brooksfilms
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.8M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround

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