Expected more

Crappy film

As Good As It Gets

Absolutely Fantastic

By the 1990s, Mel Brooks was one of the undisputed kings of parody. His unabashedly tasteless comedies poked fun at almost every topic and genre. So it was no doubt a surprise when he released a movie that was an original story and not a spoof. I once found an entry for "Life Stinks" in a film encyclopedia, and the description began "So does the film." I will say that it's no "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein" or "Spaceballs", but it has its moments (and it does draw attention to homelessness). We could be cynical and say that what it depicts would never happen in real life, but would ANY of Mel Brooks's movies happen in real life?So even if we understand that it's probably his lowest movie, we can still enjoy it. It turns out that Theodore Wilson (Fumes) died of a stroke around the time of the movie's release. Damn.

A filthy rich businessman (Mel Brooks) bets a corporate rival (Jeffrey Tambor) that he can live on the streets of L.A. without the comforts of home or money, which proves to be tougher than he thought.This is not one of those Mel Brooks films you hear about. It may, in fact, be the least talked about. But that's not entirely fair, because while this is not "classic Brooks" by any means, it is also not his worst. There are some clever moments and a fair amount of humor, even if the social commentary might not be as biting.The one down side, in my opinion, is that the poverty scenes don't go far enough. Yes, there are rats and one character dies, but it seems like Brooks' character gets off relatively light. But this all ends up being more or less a prelude anyway...

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.

Homelessness (or Houselessness as George Carlin stated) has been an issue for years but never a plan to help those on the street that were once considered human who did everything from going to school, work, or vote for the matter. Most people think of the homeless as just a lost cause while worrying about things such as racism, the war on Iraq, pressuring kids to succeed, technology, the elections, inflation, or worrying if they'll be next to end up on the streets.But what if you were given a bet to live on the streets for a month without the luxuries you once had from a home, the entertainment sets, a bathroom, pictures on the wall, a computer, and everything you once treasure to see what it's like to be homeless? That is Goddard Bolt's lesson.Mel Brooks (who directs) who stars as Bolt plays a rich man who has everything in the world until deciding to make a bet with a sissy rival (Jeffery Tambor) to see if he can live in the streets for thirty days without the luxuries; if Bolt succeeds, he can do what he wants with a future project of making more buildings. The bet's on where Bolt is thrown on the street with a bracelet on his leg to monitor his every move where he can't step off the sidewalk. He's given the nickname Pepto by a vagrant after it's written on his forehead where Bolt meets other characters including a woman by the name of Molly (Lesley Ann Warren) an ex-dancer who got divorce before losing her home, and her pals Sailor (Howard Morris) and Fumes (Teddy Wilson) who are already used to the streets. They're survivors. Bolt isn't. He's not used to reaching mutual agreements like he once did when being rich where it's fight or flight, kill or be killed.While the love connection between Molly and Bolt wasn't necessary to plot, I found "Life Stinks" to be one of Mel Brooks' observant films where prior to being a comedy, it shows a tender side compared to his slapstick work such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, or Spaceballs for the matter, to show what it's like having something valuable before losing it the next day or on the other hand making a stupid bet like all rich people do when they don't know what to do with their money. Maybe they should give it to the homeless instead of using it like Monopoly money.Or maybe this film will inspire you to help others.