Life Stinks
Encyclopedia
Life Stinks is a 1991
comedy-drama
directed by and starring Mel Brooks
. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody
, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall
. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren
, Howard Morris
and Jeffrey Tambor
. The original music score was composed by John Morris.
There are three conditions: #1) Bolt will be completely penniless; #2) He must wear an electronic anklet that will activate if he leaves the boundaries, forfeiting the bet if he exceeds 30 seconds out of bounds; #3) At no time can he reveal to any of the slum area residents that he is Goddard Bolt. If he succeeds, Bolt will gain the neighborhood for almost nothing.
Crasswell schemes to make Bolt's stay on the streets as bad as can be. Bolt, homeless, hungry and filthy, is befriended by skid-row inhabitants like Sailor (Howard Morris) and Fumes (Theodore Wilson) and given the nickname "Pepto" after falling asleep in a crate with a Pepto-Bismol logo on its side. In the process, he also falls in love with Molly (Lesley Ann Warren), a homeless woman who used to be a dancer on Broadway. During a scuffle with two muggers, Bolt is pushed out of bounds. To prevent his anklet from activating, he charges back in towards the thugs, which impresses Molly with his supposed bravery.
Bolt learns important life lessons during his 'adventure,' unaware that the unscrupulous Crasswell has no intention of honoring their bet, the latter having bribed Bolt's lawyers into fabricating the story that Bolt had lost his mind.
Whoopi Goldberg
was initially considered for Lesley Ann Warren's role; however, Brooks was uncertain whether he could convincingly play her love interest.
.
It is a rare Mel Brooks film that is both a critical and commercial failure. Rotten Tomatoes
reported that 19% of critics gave positive reviews based on 16 reviews. Praise did come from the fact that Brooks attempted a different type of satire rather than rehashing spoofs. The film underperformed at the box office grossing $4,102,526 domestically, under its $13 million budget.
Some believe it has since gained a cult following
for being Brooks' experimental film.
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
directed by and starring Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody
Parody film
A parody film is a comedy that satirizes other film genres or films. Although the genre is often overlooked, parody films are commonly profitable at the box office...
, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren is an American actress and singer. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Emmy Awards and five times for Golden Globe, winning one....
, Howard Morris
Howard Morris
Howard Morris was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.- Life and career :...
and Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
. The original music score was composed by John Morris.
Plot
In order to own an entire slum area of Los Angeles so he can tear it down, a callous, rich businessman, Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks), CEO of Bolt Enterprises, makes a bet with his biggest rival, Vance Crasswell (Jeffrey Tambor), who also has an interest in the property, that he can survive on those streets for 30 days.There are three conditions: #1) Bolt will be completely penniless; #2) He must wear an electronic anklet that will activate if he leaves the boundaries, forfeiting the bet if he exceeds 30 seconds out of bounds; #3) At no time can he reveal to any of the slum area residents that he is Goddard Bolt. If he succeeds, Bolt will gain the neighborhood for almost nothing.
Crasswell schemes to make Bolt's stay on the streets as bad as can be. Bolt, homeless, hungry and filthy, is befriended by skid-row inhabitants like Sailor (Howard Morris) and Fumes (Theodore Wilson) and given the nickname "Pepto" after falling asleep in a crate with a Pepto-Bismol logo on its side. In the process, he also falls in love with Molly (Lesley Ann Warren), a homeless woman who used to be a dancer on Broadway. During a scuffle with two muggers, Bolt is pushed out of bounds. To prevent his anklet from activating, he charges back in towards the thugs, which impresses Molly with his supposed bravery.
Bolt learns important life lessons during his 'adventure,' unaware that the unscrupulous Crasswell has no intention of honoring their bet, the latter having bribed Bolt's lawyers into fabricating the story that Bolt had lost his mind.
Cast
- Mel BrooksMel BrooksMel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
as Goddard Bolt - Lesley Ann WarrenLesley Ann WarrenLesley Ann Warren is an American actress and singer. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Emmy Awards and five times for Golden Globe, winning one....
as Molly - Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
as Vance Crasswell - Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
as Pritchard - Howard MorrisHoward MorrisHoward Morris was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.- Life and career :...
as Sailor - Rudy De LucaRudy De LucaRudy De Luca is an American screenwriter and actor best known for his work with filmmaker Mel Brooks.-As Writer:*The Carol Burnett Show *The Tim Conway Show *The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine...
as J. Paul Getty - Theodore WilsonTheodore WilsonTheodore "Teddy" Wilson was an American character actor best known for his recurring role as Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times.-Career:...
as Fumes - Carmen FilpiCarmen FilpiCarmen Filpi was an American actor who starred in films and on television. He is well known for playing a homeless man in a lot of films....
as Pops (eleven's up) - Michael EnsignMichael Ensign- Early life :Ensign was born in Safford, Arizona and was raised in both the United States and England. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and spent the first ten years of his professional career working in the theatre in Britain.- Career :...
as Knowles - Matthew Faison as Stevens
- Billy BartyBilly BartyBilly Barty was an American film actor.-Biography:Barty, an Italian American, was born William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania...
as Willy - Brian ThompsonBrian Thompson (actor)Brian Thompson is an American actor. His distinctive square-jaw profile, powerful voice, and imposing stature has led him to be typecast as a villain in many action films and TV series, and a some comedies: Joe Dirt, The Three Amigos, Weird Science, Key West, and Life Stinks.-Career:Thompson has...
as Mean Victor - Raymond O'ConnorRaymond O'ConnorRaymond O'Connor is an American character actor.-Career:Raymond O'Connor has been in a number of films, some small roles and some large roles as well...
as Yo - Carmine CaridiCarmine CaridiCarmine Caridi is an American television and film actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles over the past 30 years. He lives in West Hollywood.- Career :...
as Flophouse Owner - Sammy Shore as Reverend at Wedding
- Frank Roman as Spanish Interpreter
- Christopher Birt as Paramedic
- Robert RidgelyRobert RidgelyRobert Ridgely was an American actor and vocal artist, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work.-Career:...
as Craswell's Attorney
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
was initially considered for Lesley Ann Warren's role; however, Brooks was uncertain whether he could convincingly play her love interest.
Reception
The film was screened out of competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival1991 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Roman Polanski *Férid Boughedir *Whoopi Goldberg *Margaret Menegoz *Natalia Negoda *Alan Parker *Jean-Paul Rappeneau *Hans Dieter Seidel *Vittorio Storaro...
.
It is a rare Mel Brooks film that is both a critical and commercial failure. Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 19% of critics gave positive reviews based on 16 reviews. Praise did come from the fact that Brooks attempted a different type of satire rather than rehashing spoofs. The film underperformed at the box office grossing $4,102,526 domestically, under its $13 million budget.
Some believe it has since gained a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
for being Brooks' experimental film.