Life Is Sweet

Name: Life Is Sweet
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 25, 1991
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 88
Cast: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent

1991

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Life Is Sweet

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Movie Details & Credits

October Films | Release Date: October 25, 1991 | R

Starring: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent

Summary: Just north of London live Wendy, Andy, and their twenty-something twins, Natalie and Nicola. Wendy clerks in a shop, leads aerobics at a primary school, jokes like a vaudevillian, agrees to waitress at a friend's new restaurant and dotes on Andy, a cook who forever puts off home remodeling projects, and with a drunken friend, buys a brokenJust north of London live Wendy, Andy, and their twenty-something twins, Natalie and Nicola. Wendy clerks in a shop, leads aerobics at a primary school, jokes like a vaudevillian, agrees to waitress at a friend's new restaurant and dotes on Andy, a cook who forever puts off home remodeling projects, and with a drunken friend, buys a broken down lunch wagon. Natalie, with short neat hair and a snappy, droll manner, is a plumber; she has a holiday planned in America, but little else. Last is Nicola, odd man out: a snarl, big glasses, cigarette, mussed hair, jittery fingers, bulimic, jobless, and unhappy. How they interact and play out family conflict and love is the film's subject.… Expand

Director: Mike Leigh

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

There are scenes here that are funnier than those of any other movie this year, and other scenes that weep with the pain of sad family secrets, and when it's over we have seen some kind of masterpiece. This is one of the best films of the year. Read full review

100

Jay Boyar

It's a measure of Leigh's sensitivity that the big scene arises naturally, never threatening the delicate fabric of the narrative... And not only has Leigh grown as a storyteller, he appears to have acquired exactly the right amount of filmmaking technique to tell his story. Read full review

100

Kenneth Turan

You feel protective about Leigh's work because its almost indescribable virtues touch the heart, yet far from being some delicate flower, Life Is Sweet has the wild, brazen, anything-goes energy of a 2-year-old, willing to take chances that would freeze the blood of another, more timidly conventional film. Read full review

Ted Mahar

The plot's very sparsity gives "Life" its own special suspense. It is rarely possible to guess where the film will be in the next 10 minutes, yet nothing in it is improbable. That is another reason why the upbeat finale works. For all of the film's quirks and absurdity, it never strains credulity. [27 Dec. 1991, p.13]

Clifford Terry

An off-center, lighthearted but perceptive study of people following their dreams in the only way they know how, Life Is Sweet-the title is only somewhat ironic-is a warm and joyful piece, with the tossed-off hilarity smoothly giving way to poignance in its darker final segments. Read full review

Empire Dee Nkabu

Leigh has the skill to inspire with the everyday. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Life Is Sweet observes this constellation of people without ever really commenting on their lots. Very little occurs and thus, if you don't find yourself drawn to these characters, you will find yourself wondering when it will all be over. Read full review

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User Reviews

amheretojudge

Jun 25, 2019

The siblings opposing and denying in their confessional meltdown, is some of the best writing I have seen in my life.

Life Is Sweet Leigh is an optimistic filmmaker. I mean you can say that from the title itself. But before I start, let me come out and say that I might not be the perfectThe siblings opposing and denying in their confessional meltdown, is some of the best writing I have seen in my life.

Life Is Sweet

Leigh is an optimistic filmmaker. I mean you can say that from the title itself. But before I start, let me come out and say that I might not be the perfect guy to say something about the writer and director, Mike Leigh's film. For saying that the film is close to me, would be understating. It is a story about my family. In fact, the younger kid, the lead character, is me. So before you move further, my point should not be accounted, for it may be biased. Still, I'll try to be vague and less focused on coming up with some varied adjective describing my affection towards Mike Leigh and his lofty project- last one, I promise.

Let's try and bring out the disadvantageous side effects. And let's give the devil his due, the film has the consistency to run for an hour episode, maximum. It is not that the rest of the material is stretched. It's just that Leigh persists us on understanding the views of other members before closing up. He requires the momentum of the characters to carry enough weight when they finally collide with each other. And it does pay off, undoubtedly.

And there is this additional character of Timothy Spall whose swag is on thousand throughout the course of the film. Watch him put on a funky suit and carefree attitude that rests upon the doom that he has been calling for. And David Thewlis is more like the voice of reason, a surprise package, whose thought provoking questions are as good as absurd. Yet, I find myself recalling the tiny elements that Leigh has spread out to collect and swoon over. Jane Horrocks whispered the secret far before the film ends, when she smokes a cigarette for a lunch, her bitter and sharp looks exhales that Life Is Sweet.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

EpicLadySponge

May 4, 2016

Life is indeed sweet, but that's only if you're living in an easy life. Life is Sweet proves that easy side of life but can't bring it to us so we'll have to go to it to get the easy life.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Feb 20, 2022

This is very much a 90s film about a dysfunctional British family. It was quite amusing, if only for the scenes with Timothy Spall's character - him in big bright red, round glasses was enough to make me laugh, never mind the moody accent and his drunkenness in one scene. The cast is goodThis is very much a 90s film about a dysfunctional British family. It was quite amusing, if only for the scenes with Timothy Spall's character - him in big bright red, round glasses was enough to make me laugh, never mind the moody accent and his drunkenness in one scene. The cast is good all round, with a young Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks and Clare Skinner etc. There's humour in the dialogue and while its hardly an exciting watch, the characters are certainly quirky (if quite gobby!) and its a pretty entertaining watch. I quite enjoyed this film, so yes I'd recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kathytreece

Apr 18, 2017

About a dysfunctional family in England. I found it hard to relate to family members. I recommend subtitles to understand what the actors are saying. Watched this movie at home with a dvd on loan from the library.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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