It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

By the 1990s, Mel Brooks was one of the undisputed kings of parody. His unabashedly tasteless comedies poked fun at almost every topic and genre. So it was no doubt a surprise when he released a movie that was an original story and not a spoof. I once found an entry for "Life Stinks" in a film encyclopedia, and the description began "So does the film." I will say that it's no "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein" or "Spaceballs", but it has its moments (and it does draw attention to homelessness). We could be cynical and say that what it depicts would never happen in real life, but would ANY of Mel Brooks's movies happen in real life?So even if we understand that it's probably his lowest movie, we can still enjoy it. It turns out that Theodore Wilson (Fumes) died of a stroke around the time of the movie's release. Damn.

So to begin with, as others have pointed out over the years, this is not his finest film. That being said, it's a nice film. 'Nice' being the operative word. It's polite in that way, it's relaxing and doesn't demand anything of its viewer.So if you come at this film with a bare minimum of mental energy, possibly after a few drinks or curled up in bed, you will likely take the maximum enjoyment that can be garnered from this film and its gentle comedy. It's got no big laughs or shocks and will give you a mild smile or a chuckle before you fall asleep.This was pretty much how I watched it and I had a nice time. I wouldn't recommend this to you to watch with all your faculties at optimum level, but keep your expectations low and enjoy it for what it is, because what it is is pretty relaxed silliness.

This film has some great comedy. There are many funny scenes of mishaps and chaos. But the best are the spoofs – in lines and scenes. No element of society seems to escape the jabs of one-liners, witty exchanges or sarcastic innuendos. The obvious are the rich and famous. Even the street people themselves, religion, the city mission, medical care, the law, public service and workers are subjected to jabs. One of the very funniest scenes to me was in the hospital where a doctor orders repeated high doses of a drug for Bolt, failing to notice that he had already seen this patient, with the ensuring result. I agree with those who see a different Mel Brooks in "Life Stinks," and one whom they like better. There's no doubt about the man's comic abilities, but the type of humor he had in his early films wasn't for everyone. It was too crass, crude and vulgar to the liking of many people – me included. My rule of thumb for a good comedy show is one that I would be able to take my girl friend (earlier years), my wife, my mother, and my sister to. If it's not fit for them, it's not very good comedy. I have seen the other earlier films that Brooks produced and acts in, and they fall short. But this film is a pleasant surprise. "Life Stinks" has a real story line and good plot – qualities others have noted that are missing from most early Brooks films. And, it has a story about redemption, with a happy ending. At least one reviewer didn't see the humor in a comedy about homeless people. Yet, time and again, humor and comedy have been the best ways to get substantial attention to serious issues. And, when the humor is clean and tasteful, as in this film, it can be a boon to public recognition and understanding of the plights of people. The production qualities for this film are very good. Brooks is good in his role, and a very good supporting cast lends a lot to the enjoyment of this film. Lesley Ann Warren's performance as Molly would be deserving of an Oscar nomination in many years. All in all, this is a very good comedy satire that most movie buffs should enjoy.

Homelessness (or Houselessness as George Carlin stated) has been an issue for years but never a plan to help those on the street that were once considered human who did everything from going to school, work, or vote for the matter. Most people think of the homeless as just a lost cause while worrying about things such as racism, the war on Iraq, pressuring kids to succeed, technology, the elections, inflation, or worrying if they'll be next to end up on the streets.But what if you were given a bet to live on the streets for a month without the luxuries you once had from a home, the entertainment sets, a bathroom, pictures on the wall, a computer, and everything you once treasure to see what it's like to be homeless? That is Goddard Bolt's lesson.Mel Brooks (who directs) who stars as Bolt plays a rich man who has everything in the world until deciding to make a bet with a sissy rival (Jeffery Tambor) to see if he can live in the streets for thirty days without the luxuries; if Bolt succeeds, he can do what he wants with a future project of making more buildings. The bet's on where Bolt is thrown on the street with a bracelet on his leg to monitor his every move where he can't step off the sidewalk. He's given the nickname Pepto by a vagrant after it's written on his forehead where Bolt meets other characters including a woman by the name of Molly (Lesley Ann Warren) an ex-dancer who got divorce before losing her home, and her pals Sailor (Howard Morris) and Fumes (Teddy Wilson) who are already used to the streets. They're survivors. Bolt isn't. He's not used to reaching mutual agreements like he once did when being rich where it's fight or flight, kill or be killed.While the love connection between Molly and Bolt wasn't necessary to plot, I found "Life Stinks" to be one of Mel Brooks' observant films where prior to being a comedy, it shows a tender side compared to his slapstick work such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, or Spaceballs for the matter, to show what it's like having something valuable before losing it the next day or on the other hand making a stupid bet like all rich people do when they don't know what to do with their money. Maybe they should give it to the homeless instead of using it like Monopoly money.Or maybe this film will inspire you to help others.