The Shawshank Redemption meets Stir Crazy
in this decades-spanning prison comedy. Eddie Murphy and Martin
Lawrence play a couple of buffoons who get framed for murder in
the Deep South. Their incarceration carries them from the Prohibition
Era into modern times, and director Ted Demme takes the opportunity
to mix social observation (it'd be a stretch to call it "commentary")
into the story. This includes surprisingly well-shaded views of
racism. Mostly, though, Life provides Murphy and Lawrence
with scattered opportunities for comic riffing. Murphy does his
funniest, most free-spirited work in years, and Lawrence makes
a likable straight man. It's a shame the movie is so aimless,
but a sloppy Life is worth a dozen tight Dr. Dolittles.
--Zachary Woodruff
Full Length Reviews
 Life 
Life 
Capsule Reviews
 Life 
Other Films by Ted Demme
Beautiful Girls 
Monument Ave.
Film Vault Suggested Links
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Analyze This 
 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 
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