Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Life Stinks Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 13, 2015

While writer/director/star Mel Brooks achieved his greatest career successes in the world of genre spoofs, he initially made his mark with original ideas and adaptations, including “The Producers” and “The Twelve Chairs.” With efforts such as “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein” cementing his name as the go-to guy for cinematic replication with a side of silliness, Brooks returned to his first love with 1991’s “Life Stinks,” his first new idea after two decades of box office successes. Perhaps the vacation should’ve lasted longer. Although designed with Brooks’s usual manic spirit and timing, “Life Stinks” is a feature that just doesn’t work, no matter how hard it emphasizes punchlines or slaps around actors. It’s an unpleasant, unfunny comedy that attempts to make light of the dire subject of homelessness, with Brooks somehow believing that gags concerning alcoholism and mental illness are enough to generate a level of social awareness that could justify the wince-inducing screenplay. Brooks has made his share of stinkers, but this picture is his worst, dragged to a full stop by uncharacteristic lifelessness.

A billionaire developer who lives a life of luxury, Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks) is a ruthless businessman with a plan to clear away the slums of Los Angeles to build a shiny utopia. Only owning half of the land, Goddard looks to buy out Vance (Jeffrey Tambor), but his rival isn’t interested in selling. Instead of enduring a stalemate, Vance proposes a bet, sending Goddard into the dangerous area to live for 30 days without money, offering him his real estate if he can last the month. Stripped of cash, hair, and resources, Goddard is left with nothing, quickly receiving an education on survival as he hunts for shelter and begs for food. Meeting fellow vagrant Molly (Lesley Ann Warren), Goddard finds a disturbed woman who emerges as a friend, helping the broken CEO navigate the streets, with the pair bonding as homeless challenges mount. Back in the lap of luxury, Vance is growing impatient, attempting to change the terms of the bet while Goddard is away, looking to steal the land and leave his opponent penniless.

There’s nothing subtle about “Life Stinks,” with its very title the type of exclamation point Brooks favors in his filmmaking. Scripted by Brooks, Rudy De Luca (who also appears as an insane man who drives Goddard crazy), and Steve Haberman, the picture creates a precise vision of corruption with its lead character, imagining Goddard as a businessman with no regard for the weak and poor, happily mowing down rainforests and destroying nursing homes to make room for his enterprises. Goddard is built up to be torn down, agreeing to participate in Vance’s bet as a way to prove his masculinity and nab a bargain on necessary real estate. Left with nothing but the clothes on his back and an ankle monitor to keep him honest, Goddard’s challenge is ideal fodder for wacky misadventures, with Brooks channeling classic comedies to inspire this journey into outrageous misfortune.

Making a comedy about homelessness is a strange creative decision, but Brooks has never walked away from a tonal challenge. “Life Stinks” doesn’t present a nuanced look at life on the streets, preferring to treat its vagabond characters as cartoons, transforming the likes of Molly, Sailor (Howard Morris), and Fumes (Teddy Wilson) into crazy people for comedic purposes, having fun with their rambling outbursts and alcoholism, while other inhabitants of the slum are viewed as a violent threat. It’s easy to be offended by “Life Stinks,” but laughs tend to diffuse outrage, only Brooks doesn’t include anything here of worth. A few physical gags break through, but the screenplay is primarily filled with tired one-liners, “Three Stooges”-style slapstick, and phallic sight gags. It’s not a mean movie, just wholly misguided, with Brook perhaps feeling a little too bulletproof at this point in his career, unable to clearly grasp the idea that homelessness isn’t built for funny business.

Brooks does try to find meaning in “Life Stinks,” killing off a fringe character halfway through the story, offering a sobering reminder of disposability in destitution. If there’s a definite way to decimate the potential for laughs in what’s been a broad comedy up to this point, it’s death. Brooks tries to recover with a few fantasies, including a musical number between Goddard and Molly, who dream up a colorful dance inside a rag factory. The helmer once again pays tribute to his big screen heroes, but the moment sticks out awkwardly, registering as indulgent instead of necessary. However, random ideas are common to “Life Stinks,” extending to Sailor’s obsession with “The Elevens,” referring to two neck muscles that pop out when death is near. I have no idea what this bizarre addition was meant to bring to the story, resembling an aborted subplot from an earlier draft that somehow made it through to the final product.

Also keeping “Life Stinks” strange is a creative choice to resolve the bet between Vance and Goddard after an hour, with a large portion of the tycoon’s month missing from the picture. Instead of more street encounters, the final act is devoted to deceptions and gamesmanship between the rich and the formerly rich, leading to a boisterous climax that involves a battle between massive construction equipment. Looking to conclude with a bang, Brooks loses what little appeal there is in “Life Stinks,” moving away from interpersonal trials and Goddard’s test of endurance to toy with banal betrayals and action that isn’t interesting. There’s more to Goddard’s adventures in the slum, but the effort doesn’t show much interest, moving along quickly after a short period in the thick of misery.

Life Stinks Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't arrive from a recent scan, showing some signs of age with a slightly softer, diluted viewing experience. Detail isn't a sharp as it could be, even when dealing with soften cinematography, and while textures remain, they're rarely profound, served best with close-ups and set decoration. Colors are mostly flat and aged, with passable intensity from costuming and street signage. Grain is indistinct, not as filmic as hoped, leaving a cleaner image for home viewing. Delineation isn't tested to the extreme in a sun-blasted picture as this, but frame information remains intact. Some speckling is detected, but no overt damage.

Life Stinks Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is basic but effective, pushing dialogue exchanges forward to emphasize comedic speeds and volume, staying within a healthy range. Scoring is secure and full, providing deep instrumentation that sets the mood. Atmospherics are effective, creating expansive life on the street. No hiss or distortion is detected.

Life Stinks Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features screenwriters Mel Brooks, Rudy De Luca, and Steve Haberman.

• "Does Life Really Stink?" (14:14, SD) is a 2003 featurette on the making of "Life Stinks," containing interviews with Brooks, De Luca, and Haberman, who detail the origin of the story and the helmer's return to more personal work.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:02, SD) is included.

Life Stinks Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Life Stinks" represented a turning point for Brooks," signaling a career slide that would find the helmer returning to parodies like "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" before retiring from direction altogether. While "Life Stinks" doesn't work, it's notable for its position as Brooks's last stab at originality, taking one last swing with a starring role before returning to a place of comfort and guaranteed box office interest.