![]() Bonding over shared misfortune at a nightclub, Ray and Claude are tasked with bootlegging job by gangster Spanky (Rick James), only to arrive at their destination and stumble upon a murder, with corrupt Caucasian locals nailing them for a crime they didn't commit. Claude (Martin Lawrence) is a fussy man looking to do the right thing, hoping legitimate employment with a bank will be his golden ticket to a bright future with his girlfriend (Sanaa Lathan). ![]() In the 1930s, Ray (Eddie Murphy) is a scam artist looking for a big score to help him realize his dream of nightclub ownership. Laughs are found in the film, supplied by its varied cast and director Ted Demme's patience, but "Life" is far from satisfying, only masterminding a few compelling scenes of character interaction and conflict before it's buried back in the screenplay, which never figures out exactly what it wants to be, often content to permit star power to carry the story along. This collision of comedic spirits creates an interesting atmosphere of improvisational skill in "Life," though the movie itself feels short-sheeted, without a full sense of the titular experience, despite a premise that could reasonably carry a pleasing episodic narrative. While the two already worked together in 1992's"Boomerang," "Life" caught the pair during a celebratory career run, with Murphy riding high on the success of "The Nutty Professor" and "Doctor Doolittle," while Lawrence was burning off his "Bad Boys" goodwill, developing his transition from sidekick tomfoolery to leading man responsibility. In 1999, the pairing of Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy was considered a major event. Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, January 7, 2013 Murphy and Lawrence need a longer sentence. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |