Life

Plot

In 1997, at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, elderly convict Willie Long tells two inmates his friends' life stories at their burial. Ray Gibson and Claude Banks, vastly different New Yorkers, meet at the club Spanky's in 1932. Small-time thief Ray nicks Claude's wallet, who had just been cleaned out by debt collectors, as a mark in a bathroom.

Ray convinces Spanky to allow them to pay off their debts via bootlegging in the South, where they experience racial actions and are denied service at Whites Only businesses. Buying Mississippi "hooch" down south, they stop in a local bar. Ray claims to own a club called “Ray’s Boom Boom Room” in Manhattan, later admitting it only exists in his mind, but expressing ultimately that dreams begin in the mind; the Boom Boom Room becomes a recurring theme throughout the film.

Ray loses his father's prized pocket watch in a poker game to card hustler Winston Hancock, and Claude gives their last 2 dollars to a prostitute named Sylvia. Outside, racist sheriff Warren Pike demands Hancock leave town, but Hancock strikes Pike in the face, leaving a scar. Pike then kills Hancock, takes Ray's pocket watch, and frames Ray and Claude for the murder.

Despite their innocence, Ray and Claude receive life sentences at the infamous hard labor Camp 8. They immediately clash with the guards and meet fellow inmates Jangle Leg (who hits on Claude), Willie Long, Biscuit (who is involved with Jangle Leg), Radio, Goldmouth (who picks a fight with Ray, but later befriends him), Cookie the chef, and Pokerface.

Claude's attorney cousin loses his appeal, then seduces his girlfriend. With no chance at freedom, Claude and Ray break out, reaching Tallahatchie before being recaptured.

12 years later, Claude and Ray meet young, mute inmate nicknamed "Can't-Get-Right", a talented baseball player scouted by a Negro league official and is offered a pardon to play. Sensing an opportunity for freedom, Ray and Claude introduce themselves as his handlers.

Daughter of Camp 8's Superintendent Abernathy, Mae Rose, often distracts impressive baseball player, Can't-Get-Right, and eventually gives birth to a mulatto boy. Seeing that the child appears Afro-American, Superintendent Abernathy (Rose’s father), demands to know which inmate has fathered the child. All present inmates gradually claim to be the father, embarrassing Abernathy; the inmates laugh and Abernathy shamefully quits immediately.

Production

In July 1996, it was announced Eddie Murphy would star in the buddy comedy Life. The film was the result of a pitch Murphy gave to Brian Grazer, whom Murphy previously worked with on The Nutty Professor. The film was the first of a two-movie deal between Murphy and Imagine Entertainment, the second being Bowfinger.

Although Life is set in Parchman, Mississippi, it was filmed in California. Filming locations in the Los Angeles area included Downey and Norwalk, in addition to the Universal Pictures backlot. Locations in northern California included Sacramento, Brentwood, and Locke. Filming took place from March to June 1998.

Reception

Box office

Life was released on April 16, 1999, in North America. On its opening weekend, the film grossed $20,414,775. It would hold the record for having the biggest opening weekend for a non-sequel R-rated comedy until Me, Myself & Irene replaced it in June 2000. However, its gross the next weekend amounted to $11,257,995, and $6,481,175 in its third weekend. Its domestic run concluded with $63,886,029 for a worldwide total of $73,475,268, making it a massive financial disappointment.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Life has an approval rating of 52% based on 58 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critic consensus reads, "Entertaining if not over-the-top humor from a solid comic duo provides plenty of laughs." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Janet Maslin of The New York Times gave a positive review, writing "Lawrence and Murphy make an entertaining team", and noting "Murphy in particular develops a more substantial personality than might be expected here. As he evolves affectingly from a fast-talking hotshot into an old man with the growl and gait of a venerable blues singer, he seems to be reaching for a greater acting opportunity than this lightweight material can offer. It's a performance that feels solid even when the film is at its most formulaic, or when it vacillates strangely."

Since its release, the film has gained a strong cult following, with Elliot Smith of Entertainment Weekly classifying it as one of Murphy's best: A surprisingly touching buddy comedy-drama that both lives up to and subverts audience expectations, Life has become a cult classic over the past 20-plus years, showing the artistic range of stars Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The film is greatly aided by the steady hand of director Ted Demme, who gives his actors both freedom to shine while also reining in their overwrought impulses.

Accolades

Academy Awards

nominated, Rick Baker for Best Makeup (1999)

NAACP Image Award

nominated for Outstanding Motion Picture (2000)

BMI Film & TV Awards

(won) for Most Performed Song from a Film (2000)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

nominated with Eddie Murphy for Favorite Comedy Team (2000) for the movie

nominated for Favorite Song from a Movie (Fortunate)

Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on March 16, 1999, on Rock Land/Interscope Records. It peaked at 10 on the Billboard 200 and 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and was certified platinum with over 1 million copies sold on June 18, 1999.