Life Stinks

Charming, undervalued Brooks comedy is a curious outlier in his filmography - a basically straight, sincere and pleasingly old-fashioned character comedy, built on an admittedly dusty and time-worn premise, but distinguished by some tart economic observations, and livened by some hilarious slapstick gags (an opener involving a door and a garbage bin is especially well executed). A shame Brooks didn't go on to pursue this sort of Chaplin-esque comedy for which it appears he had a skill.

Watch for the scenes with "Pepto," the guy with corn on his face, Mel Brooks dancing on the sidewalk, and the homeless guy talking about the rich people having a party. "Hop-to, hop-to, skibbity-bing-bong, hop-to!"

its ok...a little cheesy but fairly watchable

The plotting isn't very good despite a fun Trading Places esque premise. There are a handful of good jokes throughout, but overall not as funny as you'd expect from a Brooks film. That said the whole thing is mostly worth it just for the "I'm richer" fight scene. The ending is also very much on point.

Brooks når bunden på flere måder.

Brooks' most underrated film. It more closely resembles the films of Capra, Sturges and Chaplin in its moral simplicity and its generous view of humanity than any other Hollywood comedy of the last 25 years. Brooks mines this unlikely riches-to-rags scenario for comic gold in its best sequences, and makes some trenchant and funny observations about the life of the poor and homeless in post-Reagan America but stumbles somewhat when attempting to deliver a 'message'. At least it's sincere.

Not terrible, but a far cry from the classics that Mel Brooks made, not even as good as some of his others. At any rate, I don't think there's a movie he directed that's completely without merit, but this one was justifiably lost to time.

Makesitsotheyerasehim

Good

I saw this movie in the theatres and remember greatly enjoying it. A second viewing revealed some flaws in the movie, but it is still exceptionally funny at times and showcases Jeffrey Tambor and Lesley Ann Warren.

watchable

Sappy as hell and completely unfunny, typical 90s Mel Brooks

Not the best of Mel Brooks, but is not a bad movie. It has a strange and funny story, with its criticism.