Life (I) (1999) User Reviews

One of Murphy's most underrated films

[SmileysWorld · 7/10 · 27 May 2002]

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.

life's what you make it!

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 20 June 2020]

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

I Liked It

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 8 June 2000]

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

One of Eddie Murphy's best films.

[TxMike · 22 March 2000]

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.

jail actually looks kinda nice all of a sudden

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 12 April 2006]

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".

Two of the funniest men of our time, in a serious movie?

[chrisbrown6453 · 7/10 · 17 June 2002]

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.

Underrated

[mitsubishizero · 9/10 · 12 March 2021]

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.

A very nice surprise

[MovieAddict2016 · 6/10 · 19 August 2002]

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

Life is a serious matter

[jlacerra · 10/10 · 30 June 2001]

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.

An entertaining comedy that deals very elusively with the uncomfortable material that forms the foundation of its plot.

[Anonymous_Maxine · 7/10 · 26 April 2002]

(spoilers) Life is a perfect example of the type of film that attempts to force a smile onto unhappy material, because the movie is so eager to amuse the audience that it completely forgets the racism and hatred that led to the introduction of its conflict. By the end of the film, its true that we are happy to see Ray and Claude finally free and enjoying a baseball game, but the film would have you forget that they are decrepit old men in their 90s who have basically spent their entire lives in prison because of racism. Their entire lives have been taken away, but the movie wants us to forget about that and get a good laugh from their relentless bickering and things like Claude getting one of his toes stuck in the bottle.

Luckily, Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence work so well together on screen that the comedy that we get from their interaction does, in fact, achieve this strange goal that the movie strives for the whole time. They are both undeniably funny guys, so the comedy in the film is unmistakable, but it's interesting to consider the magnitude with which the painful prejudices that the movie deals with are ignored in favor of what is, at many parts, little more than slapstick comedy.

In the movie's defense, however, it is a good comedy once the ignorance of the racial element is removed, and even when that portion of the film's components is considered, it still manages to walk the fine line between comedy and drama, although just barely. The film manages to avoid the all too common mistake of having the main character(s) fall into masses of trouble by sheer stupidity (which is, admittedly, more a problem in romantic comedies than in films like this). Ray and Claude are both not the most upstanding of citizens when we first meet them, but it seems that they are each on the verge of turning their lives around, to some extent at least, when they get framed for a murder. Instead of picking pockets, Ray gets robbed at a poker game, and Claude gets stuck with Ray on a bootlegging trip to avoid the wrath of some powerful gangster.

The man who cheated at the poker game and took all of Ray's money and his father's watch is found dead (by Ray and Claude, as it were), so while Ray is going through the dead man's pockets trying to find his watch, they are approached by a bunch of rednecks (whose inbred appearances are rivaled only by the subhumans in the Gator Bait films), who decide that they are doing a good deed by bringing the two black guys downtown. Thus begins Ray's and Claude's REAL troubles, and they spend the rest of their lives trying to prove their innocence and get their lives back.

The majority of the film takes place in prison, spanning decades of wrongful imprisonment for Ray and Claude and introducing several interesting and amusing characters just long enough to affect us as several of them disappear from the film in a sequence of elliptical editing that does not seem to fit with the rest of the movie. There are several escape attempts, many of which are there entirely for comic relief (Ray would not have even been able to get into and fly a plane, much less survive that fiery crash), in which the film desperately tries to be an even more comic version of the vastly superior Cool Hand Luke. Unfortunately, Ray Gibson and Claude Banks COMBINED do not even come close to Paul Newman's remarkably memorable Luke Jackson. They don't match the character, the ingeniousness of the escape attempts, or the comic appeal, of which there was virtually none at many points.

On the other hand, it's obvious that this is not a film that is to be taken to seriously. Walk into any video store in the world and you will find Life in the comedy section, because that is the type of film that it sets out to be, and that is what it becomes. In that sense, the film succeeds on many levels. Martin Lawrence and Edie Murphy work very well on the screen, the comedy is unmistakable, and we even get a satisfactory ending to such minor subplots as the theft of Ray's father's watch (and, incidentally, his and Claude's wrongful imprisonment), but it all comes down to the film asking us to ignore too much material (such as, for example, the ultimate fate of the nice white man who shot another white man to protect a couple of black convicts, as well as things like why there is a nice old lady living in a cute little house literally within pie-sniffing distance of the prison camp, and with no fences in between). It cannot be denied that the movie does address at several points the racism involved, but it still makes every effort to remain a comedy, and it succeeds at that, but the conflict between drama and comedy is not resolved, leaving us amused but p***ed off.

This delicate balance between drama and comedy can be done successfully, one has only to watch a film like Life Is Beautiful to see it done nearly flawlessly, but that is because that film USED the comedy in order to enhance the drama involved. The comedy made Guido an immensely likable character, which made us root for him much more and made us ultimately more affected by his misfortunes. In the case of Life, no one seems to want to put in that much effort. We get a good comedy that is riddled with the horrible affects of racism, with the unfortunate result that we get lots of good laughs throughout the film, but feel guilty afterward when we consider the events that led to it.

A bit of a mixed bag, but sadly for me there was more bad than good here

[jimbo-53-186511 · 3/10 · 12 December 2015]

A prison inmate recites the story of two petty law breakers Ray Gibson (Eddie Murphy) and Claude Banks (Martin Lawrence). The two men are framed for murder whilst they are completing a bootlegging job in Mississippi for Spanky Johnson (Rick James) - a man to whom the two men owe a lot of money. The story chronicles their early life in prison in 1930's Mississippi right the way through to the present day.

This film gets off to a fairly impressive start; the bootlegging aspect of the film sets Ray and Claude up as a mismatched buddy duo (a tired scenario even by 1999, but amusing nonetheless). The 'no coloureds allowed' scene in the café was quite funny, but for me it was also clumsy and rather heavy-handed (as were many of the scenes in this film). Once they've collected the alcohol the two men lose all their money in a combination of stupidity and naivety which again was quite amusing. Where it really started to fall apart for me was when the two men end up in prison....

This seemed to be where the film almost grinds to a halt and becomes repetitive, tedious and uninteresting. Many of the Southern characters are dull clichés and sadly none of them get any kind of development and nor are we given any reason to care for any of them. The only mildly interesting character was Can't Get Right who shows himself to be an exceptional baseball player and ends up getting a pardon so he can compete professionally - although it's fair to presume that he made it big it might have been nice if this was added as a little insert at the end. As mentioned, poor characterisation is what really lets this film down; in most prison dramas there are usually at least one or two side characters who the protagonists form bonds with and this is what usually helps to give films of this nature some lift, but to me this really just felt like the Lawrence and Murphy show. It's probably inaccurate to class a lot of the cast as supporting characters as they acted more like extras than anything else. This point is further reinforced by the fact that many of the characters just disappeared from screen (literally) later in the film - presumably because they either die or end up being released - again this is never made clear. It's strange that this is classed as a story about two men spending 65 years in prison because to me it actually felt like a story without a story - many things seemed to happen that end up going nowhere, seemingly important plot points are established without being expanded upon (such as Claude's appeal). This aimless feel to the film sadly made it feel quite boring to me.

Lawrence and Murphy are the only things that really prevent this film from being a complete disaster; Murphy brings his usual energy to the table and is great fun to watch. Lawrence fares well here as the straight man and bounces well off Murphy. Together, Murphy and Lawrence's chemistry is good, but again even they start to become tiresome (particularly in the latter stages when they are old men). The film has some amusing prison moments - the governor holding his daughter's baby up to each of the inmates to determine who the father is was actually a stroke of genius. I have to admit that the ending was very clever as well. However, these good moments were few and far between.

Die-hard Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence fans may get something out of this, but there are far better prison dramas out there and this for me stands as one of the weakest that I've seen.

That ain't my daddy's watch😂😂😂

[scottdashrek · 10/10 · 5 October 2019]

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

A Matter of Life

[sol- · 6/10 · 8 February 2017]

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.

Pretty Funny

[Pigalina · 5/10 · 5 October 2005]

Life was on TV and we decided to watch it as it looked pretty funny. It starts in the 1930s (very cool style back then I must say) Eddie Murphy plays a thief who ends up getting Martin Lawrence into trouble with a mobster. They have to go on a pick up job to get some moonshine. However, they get framed for murder by a racist cop and end up going to jail for - yes well done! - life. They attempt to escape many times but with no luck and end up growing very old in jail. How unfair! Will they get out alive? You'll have to watch to find out! The make-up used to make the two guys look old was very good, Oscar nominated good in fact, usually it's all talcum powder and and some drawn on wrinkles. It was quite a funny movie but not hilarious. The was a great Spartacus take-off involving an inquiry into who was the father of a baby.

"Life" Is Good

[EdRooney · 18 April 1999]

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

Great Comedy With a Meandering Script

[eric262003 · 7/10 · 17 April 2017]

Knowing that Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence were starring in this 1999 comedy "Life", I was expecting a spontaneous array of fun-loving over-the-top comical performers frolicking in scenes playing off each other's zany ways in a story we can all sink our teeth into. While they did co-star in 1992's film "Boomerang", when they collaborated, the duo were resting on the coattails of successful films like Murphy in "The Nutty Professor" and "Dr. Doolittle" and Lawrence was making us giggle in "Bad Boys" and "Big Mama's House". Sure we were expecting these two to go into full improvising in hopes to brighten up anyone's bad day, but by the end, "Life" is still very short-changed in expectations. The laughs are aplenty due to the ensemble and Ted Demme's methodical direction, but the film is is very unsatisfying due to the limited intriguing scenes and character chemistry and conflict, that was pushed back due to the lagging script that can't decide if it wants to a comedy or a comedy-drama that holds back what Murphy and Lawrence are capable of.

Murphy stars as Rayford "Ray" Gibson a hustler and Lawrence as sincere banker Claude Banks whose ambition was to get a legitimate job as a teller at the First Federal in Manhattan to provide wealth for himself and his girlfriend (Saana Lathan). Ray and Claude meet at Spanky's Nightclub where Spanky (Rick James) assigns the duo on a bootlegging assignment to pay off their debt, as they go South to Mississippi to purchase some "hooch". While there, an associate of Ray's gets killed and corrupt Caucasian locals frame Ray and Claude of a crime they did not commit. The duo are arrested and sentenced to a life sentence and sent to prison camp. There they are introduced to inmates like Jangle Leg (Bernie Mac) and the intimidating Goldmouth (Michael Taliferro). While imprisoned, Ray and Clause are warned by Sgt. Dillard (Nick Cassavetes) that any attempts to escape equals certain death. By the 1940's they befriend a promising baseball star named Can't-Get-Right (Bookeem Woodbine) and in the 1970's they are befriended by a sympathetic superintendent Wilkins (Ned Beatty) who finally are given their freedom by the 1990's. And sure the odd couple pairing of Ray and Claude provide laughs while remain disgusted with each other the longer they've been jailed.

This movie should've been a comedic gem, with equal screen time between Murphy and Lawrence, and the confident direction from the late Ted Demme who can do comedy quite capably like in "The Ref", and the supporting cast had their moments of humorous scenes. The process of time shows process as Ray and Claude are wasting away while imprisoned for something they didn't do. We should have had more check-ups on them every five years, but instead we're only given four eras of their life in jail and leaves out on the spaces in between which deters the sympathy we have for this unfortunate duo. It feels rushed from serving it purpose to the short title and can't find the meaning of how it all sums down to.

The script by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone feels at times just random while lacking in anything reflective even though Murphy and Lawrence take control over their roles admirably and Demme tries to keep the direction flowing splendidly and liberates the cast improvise their lines to keep the humour going and to show that the cast enjoy working together. The mismanagement holds the film from being a true cinematic masterpiece as it wanders from standard comedy to comedy-drama as Ray and Claude finally see life outside the walls of prison camp while an inmate takes his life to avoid living the outside world. There's also an underdone subplot involving the superintendent that feels rushed it leaves lots of questions unanswered. There are some wonderful moments, but very sporadically featured as Demme tries to keep his film funny and meaningful when it needed to be consistent and more emphasis on the passage of time and the hardships it had on Ray and Claude.

Hardly A Classic But Much Better Than I Expected

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 23 October 2005]

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

I din't understand why this gets such a low score!

[dcbaaca25 · 10/10 · 15 February 2008]

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.

A familiar life

[paul2001sw-1 · 6/10 · 5 July 2006]

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.

Finally, an Eddie Murphy worth watching!

[maverick-86 · 10/10 · 12 July 1999]

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.

A good reminder, but not quite an eye opener

[BenderIsGreat · 7/10 · 5 January 2005]

"Life," in general, was a good movie to remind us how things used to be. It's always appealing when movies tell an important story using not-so-important characters played by really famous actors. If you approach this movie expecting it to be a major comedy, I think you will be disappointed. But if you're just looking for a FEW laughs (and maybe a good cry here and there), this is a pretty good movie. No matter how much you've learned about slavery and the south and everything relating to the setting of this movie, I think most people still tend to watch it and think "Whoa, were things really like that?" And to be honest, it's not really a bad thing. A movie that makes you think a little bit is usually a good thing. But, with that said, it's not an eye-opening, tear-jerking, life-altering film like some other classics (I won't name them all). I don't think they quite developed the relationship between the characters as much as they could have, and the friendship between the two main characters take much too long to form (in my opinion), but if you're even relatively emotional when it comes to films about oppression, you'll probably get attached to the characters and sympathize with their troubles. So really, it's no waste of time, and the worst that can happen is you don't find it up to par with your comedy taste.

Alternates between annoying and bearable

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 1 February 2014]

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.

I have been sentenced to watch this for LIFE

[paudieconnolly · 10/10 · 3 January 2021]

One of my favorite ever comedy's Eddie Murphy at his finest. With so many memorable performances by so many of the great supporting cast some great tributes played out to films like the great escape & Cool hand Luke for a fan of these films makes it more fun. I think this is somehow an the most underrated Eddie Murphy Gem watched it in the cinema the first time and many times since still laughing to this day. Watch all the way to the end for some great outtakes which make it look like the cast had a great fun time making this one.

Very underrated film

[lisafordeay · 6/10 · 23 November 2020]

Life is a 1999 drama comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawerence. It tells the tale of 2 strangers from 1937 who were convicted for a crime they didn't do. From there the two strike a friendship and do community service in 1976 as elderly men.

The story is decent and it was a good film. Is it as funny as The Nutty Professor no but is it good yeah.

In 2021, this really comes across as a minstrel show.

[rasimons · 1/10 · 3 December 2021]

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.