Life
MCA/Universal Pictures | Release Date: April 16, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
9
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The overall effect of Demme's film is a little like experiencing Nazi prison camps through reruns of Hogan's Heroes, right down to the few bona fide laughs. Read full review
50
San Francisco ExaminerWesley 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
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The result is a movie that's both odd and mediocre: not as bad as doing hard time, but not a particularly good time, either. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen 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
50
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are back together and give both of their careers some new life in this sentimental comedy. Read full review
50
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Feels as if it's inspired by the old "Road" comedies of Crosby and Hope. Except that it's "On the Road to Hell." Read full review
50
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
Spend 60 years in jail with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, and you'll understand why they call it the pokey. [16 April 1999, Life, p.5E]
50
Dallas ObserverHal Hinson
As a result, the film doesn't seem to know what sort of comedy it wants to be -- it comes across as more confused than funny. Read full review
40
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Sluggish, laugh-free comedy (or is it an ineffectual drama?). Read full review
More From This Movie

63 Critic Reviews

8.1 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL