ChikPapa
Very disappointed :(
Libramedi
Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant
SoftInloveRox
Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Python Hyena
Nothing to Lose (1997): Dir: Steve Oedekerk / Cast: Tim Robbins, Martin Lawrence, Kelly Preston, John C. McGinley, Michael McKeen: Comedy that paints a picture of those who have no form of income. It also suggests major risk taking when we don't know the facts at hand. Tim Robbins visits his fiancée only to discover a couple in bed upstairs. He is so upset that when Martin Lawrence attempts to rob him he responds, "You picked the wrong guy at the wrong time." Eventually they put their differences aside and rob gas stations but Robbins really wants to rob his boss. There is also a meaningless subplot involving two other burglars. Very stupid once one realizes that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. Director Steve Oedekerk handles a few comic moments but this is about as stupid as his previous film Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Robbins and Lawrence are props with wasted supporting work by Kelly Preston and John C. McGinley. The Robbins characters in particular is a total idiot once one really examines his jump to conclusions decisions. This is also a routine comedy for Lawrence who certainly isn't branching out. Michael McKeen is also greatly reduced playing the boss who is suspected of the finger-pointing for which Robbins does. There is no reason to see this film since it employs little if any originality. Viewers have nothing to lose by avoiding it. Score: 2 / 10
Prismark10
Nothing to Lose is another one of these mismatched buddy comedies. As one actor is black and the other is white there is also a whiff that it was offered to Eddie Murphy who turned it down before Martin Lawrence was cast.Robbins plays a man who finds his wife cheating and it spirals into a bad day as he encounters carjacker Lawrence but Robbins has nothing to lose and has a death wish and hence begins a road trip with Lawrence getting involved in hold ups and then they encounter two other more ruthless outlaws who pursues them back to Los Angeles.The comedy and some of the scenes are rather corny and its also patchy. Lawrence although successful in comedy films has always been a little irritating and Eddie Murphy lite to me. Maybe its the scripts he gets or maybe as an actor he has limited range.Robbins does dramatic well and also throws himself into the slapstick such as his shoes catching fire. However he also has had misfires in the past when he tried his hand in comedy films, remember Howard: The Duck!There is some nice music especially the end title song but the film also wants to crow bar a social message as Lawrence is educated, clever, resourceful but unable to get a job and reduced to a life of crime. Not sure that works.
The_Void
There's no shortage of 'black guy meets white guy' flicks, and this one isn't too much more notable than the rest; but it features a fun storyline and some amusing sequences, and I have to admit that I enjoyed watching it. Most of the action focuses on the pairing of Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence and the two make a fairly good, if highly unlikely, comedy duo. As the title suggests, the plot focuses on the idea of losing everything and changing your life around because of that. The themes of the plot really don't have much weight, and it's clear that it's just an excuse for some comedy; but that's not really a bad thing. The central character is Nick Beam, a business man who lives happily with his wife Ann. He comes home early one Friday to discover her in bed with his boss. Naturally, Nick is not too pleased at this revelation, so he gets in his car and begins driving. It's not long before a would-be carjacker spots a man in a car on his own and tries to pull off a robbery; but it's the wrong day, as Nick decides to drive off into the desert with the carjacker in tow...The film is a blend of comedy and thriller, though the comedy often gets in the way of the thrills and since the plot is extremely predictable; it has to be said that Nothing to Lose is not very thrilling. Of course, it's the comedy that's more important than the thriller elements anyway. As you can probably imagine, most of the jokes come from Martin Lawrence. I can't say I'm a big fan of his style, but his manic act is mostly entertaining. Tim Robbins isn't an actor that I would expect to see in a film like this, but he fits into his role as the 'straight man' pretty well. The two leads get on well together, and their 'chalk and cheese' act is convincing enough. Because it's not difficult to see where the film is going, it's easy just to sit back and enjoy it; and the way that things play out is enjoyable enough. There are also a couple of good set pieces; the best of which sees Tim Robbins set his shoes on fire. It boils down a satisfying conclusion, which while ironic; is still predictable...but nevermind. I won't recommend seeking this film out, but if it's on TV and you have nothing else to do; there are worse films to watch.
gavin6942
Tim Robbins is a fantastic actor. He was wonderful in "Shawshank Redemption", and "Mystic River" and pretty much everything else he's ever done (even "Anchorman"). He was wonderful in this movie, even though it didn't really demand a lot of talent.A man (Robbins) finds his wife in bed with his boss, and after being almost robbed at gunpoint comes up with the genius idea to steal his boss's fortune. Along with Martin Lawrence, he becomes a criminal mastermind.Martin Lawrence is a great comedian on film. "Black Knight" and "Blue Streak" are both wonderful and this film is no exception. His show "Martin" was less sophisticated, but luckily he has shied away from that. The writer/director is Steve Oedekirk, originally (I believe) a writer for "In Living Color" after being discovered on "Star Search". He's now best known for "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist" and "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls", and you'll find more of that stupid but clever humor here.The film's use of music is funny, if poorly conceived. One scene involves an impromptu dance by Robbins to "Scatman" which should be stupid, but proved some chuckles. Odekirk cameos as a security guard who likes to sing and dance, which plays into the plot very well.Add the very sexy Rebecca Gayheart, Michael McKean and John C. McKInley (who seems to guest star in pretty much everything) and you've got yourself a quirky comedy with a very diverse and talented ensemble cast. This will likely not be your favorite film and you might not even remember it a year from now, but it's certainly worth at least one shot. Because, heck, Tim Robbins can do no wrong.Oh, and if you like vulgarity, there is a (very funny) scene where the F-word is used nearly fifty times in a two minute span. So, that's fun.
