LIFE STINKS
A film review by Randy Parker
Copyright 1996 Randy Parker
RATING: *** (out of ****)
(Review written in 1991)
In his first movie since 1987's disappointing SPACEBALLS, Mel Brooks takes a sympathetic look at America's homeless, a surprisingly sober subject matter for the usually zany comedian. However, even with its solemn theme, LIFE STINKS is still your basic Mel Brooks-comedy, which is to say that it's abundantly funny and immensely entertaining.
In addition to writing and directing, Brooks stars as an egotistical billionaire who wagers that he can live on the streets of L.A. for 30 days without money and without revealing his true identity. Brooks steers the movie mostly towards laughs, but he also gives it heart and soul, especially when present ing the homeless.
Leslie Ann Warren, in particular, sparkles as the romantic interest (a crazy bag lady who's wary of men), bringing a tough grittiness to the role. The movie's Achilles' heel: it sometimes gets so ludicrous that you can't take its serious moments seriously. With a slightly sharper edge, Brooks could have carved out some memorable social commentary to sprinkle on top of his irreverent humor.
--- Randy Parker rparker@slip.net http://www.shoestring.org
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