Life

Name: Life
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: April 16, 1999
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 54 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 54 Ratings

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LIFE

Movie Details & Credits

MCA/Universal Pictures | Release Date: April 16, 1999

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence

Summary: Spanning sixty years, this is the story of two friends who are wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison at a Mississippi penitentiary.

Director: Ted Demme

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Awards & Rankings

87	#87 Best Movie of 1999
49	#49 Most Shared Movie of 1999

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Critic Reviews

L.A. Weekly - Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Demme (Monument Ave.) brings a sure hand with pace and structure to the soft-at-heart script by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone, allowing Murphy, Lawrence and company to sit back and focus on the job at hand -- making us laugh. Read full review

Washington Post - Desson Thomson

We have been treated to something we normally would never get in a prison comedy like this: a little delicacy with the humor. Read full review

Christian Science Monitor - David Sterritt

No show-business tradition is sturdier than the two-man comedy team, and no contemporary stars are better suited to the format than Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. Pairing them was a terrific idea. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marjorie Baumgarten

This Life may not be everlasting, but it sure gives us a good run for our money. Read full review

San Francisco Examiner - Wesley Morris

If it's difficult to find straight laughs in a colorblind prison movie (It's difficult enough to find a colorblind prison movie), finding straight laughs in a black one is almost impossible. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman

Life desperately wants to let Murphy and Lawrence be actors, but it can't imagine them as anything more than rowdy showmen. That's a kind of prison as well. Read full review

The A.V. Club - Keith Phipps

Sluggish, laugh-free comedy (or is it an ineffectual drama?). Read full review

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User Reviews

JarrodL.

Jul 20, 2006

This movie is simply amazing. It is one of the most epic comedies I have ever seen, with vivid and diverse characters and many comedy greats. I am surprised that this is not better known for the amazing movie it is. It contains many deep themes one would not expect in a movie with Eddie This movie is simply amazing. It is one of the most epic comedies I have ever seen, with vivid and diverse characters and many comedy greats. I am surprised that this is not better known for the amazing movie it is. It contains many deep themes one would not expect in a movie with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence especially (considering some of his career moves). It also has many emotional and dramatic moments that supercede its purpose as a comedy. Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone have crafted one of the greatest surprises of the 1990's by making this movie encompassing and memorable. Sure, its slow. But it is also tender, and has a great ending. It doesn't deserve a 3.5 so I'm giving it a ten to restore confidence in what should be a classic.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

UnholyGhost

Aug 10, 2018

One of Eddie Murphys and Martin lawrences best films....perhaps theyre stongest it goes to show that life is a mother fu**er

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Alex6

Oct 16, 2010

I was surprised when I found out it was a comedy. Although it includes comic elements, I found it fairly moving. The viewer is taken on a real journey with the characters.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

oliviamdsn

Apr 29, 2014

The thing I love about the movie Life is that it’s not completely a comedy. It’s what you would expect with a cast of comedians including, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac and more. There are definitely funny parts but it also has a lot of sweet elements to it and a good plot. It’sThe thing I love about the movie Life is that it’s not completely a comedy. It’s what you would expect with a cast of comedians including, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac and more. There are definitely funny parts but it also has a lot of sweet elements to it and a good plot. It’s a typical story of two strangers in completely different lives that are forced together, except, these two are forced together for life in a prison. The movie spans almost 60 years but it never feels slow. It’s a very enjoyable movie that is easy to see multiple times. Eddie Murphy and martin Lawrence give great performances and they work well together. I recommend it for anyone who wants a laugh and a good story.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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