Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Sentenced to life in prison after they are wrongfully convicted of murder, two would-be bootleggers gain popularity among their inmates for their repeated escape attempts in this lively comedy. Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence bounce well off one another in the main roles with a friendship that gets worn and tested throughout. The real fun of the film only begins though after the one-hour mark with the film fast-forwarding several decades to focus on Murphy and Lawrence as old men, still sticking it to the same warden (played by Nick Cassavetes) and still as youthful as ever when it comes to plotting escapes and egging one another on. The makeup effects to age Murphy, Lawrence and Cassavetes are nothing short of remarkable too and were deservedly nominated for an Academy Award at the time. That said, the first hour of the film is not without merit. There is a highly memorable "I am Spartacus!" parody as a governor tries to work out which inmate has fathered his daughter's baby and a darkly comical letter-from-home reading session. Some of the initial scenes (before they are imprisoned) work well too, with a special mention to a scene in which the duo unsuccessfully try to purchase a pie. And yet, there is little denying that the final third of the film is by far the juiciest section, topped off with an ending that is hard to forget. For a laugh-out-loud and totally enthralling Eddie Murphy comedy, 'Bowfinger' is a safer better, but this other 1999 effort from the Oscar nominated star is not half-bad, even if it only achieves greatness towards the end.

This was the pinnacle of Eddie Murphy's career. Between his raunchy stand-up and his nonsensical family popcorn fluff came this gem of a movie. While the movie has some yucks to it, its not a beginning to end laugh-out-loud fall-from-your-seat spit- your-soda-out type of funny. Rather, it is a lighthearted take on some serious subject matter. Wrongful imprisonment, racial injustice in the south, crime and punishment, the point of pointlessness of life itself. Murphy's performance as a two bit hustler is right on the money, equal parts funny and smarmy. Lawrence too, deliver's an uncharacteristically fine performance as his frustrated counterpart. A suitable watch with or without popcorn, a good family movie, be ready to laugh and cry for this altogether unexpected opus.

Life (1999): Dir: Ted Demme / Cast: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, R. Lee Ermey, Poppy Montgomery, Ned Beatty: Well crafted comedy about friendship and companionship with very serious undertones. Title indicates both imprisonment and friendship that opens in 1932 Harlem. Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence meet by chance and are assigned to transport illegal booze. One fatal stop results in imprisonment for a murder they never committed. They spend a long 40 years in prison and for a comedy this is quite depressing especially when it references the prisoners who died during this period. There are many interesting moments that test their stability. Director Ted Demme gives a sense of isolation in a film that is quite different from his previous film Beautiful Girls. Convincing makeup demonstrates the ageing process. Both Murphy and Lawrence share a wonderful chemistry that endures until the injustice is faced. The ending is clever and justified when considering the plot problem. R. Lee Ermey plays the Sheriff who frames them and will resurface later when he is confronted and revealed. Poppy Montgomery plays a flamboyant visiting daughter subjected to sex. Ned Beatty plays a superintendent whom Murphy and Lawrence at an elderly age work for. Beatty will ultimately learn the truth and work to reverse the damages. It regards time and friendship as key elements in living life. Score: 9 / 10

The story is brilliant, Eddie Murphy we have already seen being multi-faceted but now Martin Lawrence matches him. Who knew! I put off seeing movies like this knowing that I'm going to cry and feel sad, but this movie has just the right balance of educating you on the oppression with some laughs. It shows you how their situation was complete bs, they still had to find a way to live. I am so glad it was on TV tonight and now need to get a copy of it unbleeped lol! I can't imagine what it felt like for this cast to take on these roles and experience such unfairness but I really understand now why actors are called brave to take some roles.