This film works at different levels:
-sure its funny,but there is a dark side:
the homeless theme is really explored and has pathos written all over it.
I'm not sure if that is intentional,but it is brilliant all the same !
Kudos to Warren,DeLuca,Tambor,etc.
-catch the biting satire in the mental ward where Brooks is given Thorazine over & over again...
-and "we are lawyers,afterall "
-mby
I completely agree, even though I think "underrated" is overused these days.
This is far from Mel Brooks finest film, but holds up more than 90 percent of the comedies released these days. The satire is spot-on, and the film contains a sharp blend of black comedy and slapstick.
Lesley Ann Warren is brilliant, if a bit too glam, as the co-star/love interest, and the musical number is a very well-directed urban fantasy. Seven out of 10 stars.
Life stinks, this doesn't. Really good movie, and it is way underrated movie, only 5.2?!?!
shareYes, I have the feeling that this didn't do well in our country because nobody gives a rat's ass about homelessness and how to stop it. Okay, maybe that is a little harsh, but this is a problem that will never go away.
shareAgree.
How many movies depict such important themes (and with a sense of humor too)?
Not the easiest thing to do, but perhaps the most responsible.
I'm sorry to say that this movie has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while without any attention paid to it.
I was surprised how well Mel could play and direct something dramatic like this. While there were some well-placed jokes, it took its message (and the emotions it produced) seriously.
I love Mel's comedies, but now I'm curious about what would have happened had he become a dramatic director.
Next year, I'm having the Joker do my taxes.
I just saw this movie and I liked it. Not Oscar-quality or anything but I enjoyed it.
shareGeorge W. Bush will do your taxes? Interesting, I didn't know he was in that business. Anyway, as to Brooks, it is interesting that he could do this. It is too bad that they won't let him direct anymore because he could become a Clint Eastwood type.
shareI'm surprised with the low rating of this movie. I think it's mostly due to people expecting something else. I've not seen enough Brooks movies to know his style so I was completely neutral watching this and I loved it. It's almost as good today as it was back in the day too.
sharei remember watching this movie on hbo back when i was around 9 or 10 years old. i never got to watch the whole thing, nor knew the name of the movie, but from what i saw, i loved it. fast forward nearly 20 years later, and i saw this movie at fry's for less then 5 dollars. the one and only copy. best 3.99 i ever spent. i love this film before, and i love it even more now. this movie was something that was just different. it's a comedy that has real heart to it, and doesn't come off sounding too preachy, but just enough to make ya think. it must of been tough to balance the humor, with the drama, but i think mel and leslie did well in the film.
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Agreed. I thought it was a solid eighties style comedy movie (yes, I know it was released in 1991) that had the right blend of zany comedic antics and a dash of seriousness. I kept thinking this would have also worked with someone like a John Candy in the Mel Brooks role. Anyway, I had a good time watching it.
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It's not a great movie, but it has its moments. And it's refreshing to see Mel Brooks try something different.
This is an original comedy that stands on its own, not a parody of something else. Brooks doesn't do those very often. He deserves credit for trying, even if the results are uneven.
For my money, it's better than the stale parody movies he did immediately before and after it.
Yes, I agree. I mean: it's not in the order of Apacalypse Now. But in it's modest way it's pretty good. Can we agree this movie grew over the years? And hey, the Coen Bros stole the idea of ashes blown in the face of the mourning for their Big Lebowski. And hey some more: Lesley Ann Warren is great in Life Stinks!
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Agree, its actually a very funny movie--"give that man 500 mg of Thorazine"!
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