The great thing about "Nothing to Lose" is that it doesn't try to
cover up its own ridiculous nature. The plot is highly contrived,
over-the-top, and riddled with stereotypes, but at least it makes
little attempt to appear otherwise. This film goes all the way.
Teaming up two of the most unlikely people to appear on-screen
together, Tim Robbins plays the (white guy) executive who is
carjacked by, of course, a black guy, (Martin Lawrence) on the
proverbial wrong day (which began with finding his boss in bed with
his wife). Taking their adolescence-inspired aggessions out on each
other eventually permits the two to achieve a touching degree of
cross-racial male bonding, and the film follows the frolicsome
fellows on the most unlikely of adventures.
In the breaking-down-of-racial-stereotypes category, "Nothing to
Lose" has little to offer, as its story seems driven by one thing:
the difference between stereotypical black and white behavior, with
Robbins the straight white guy and Lawrence the crazy black dude (in
case you were wondering). As to be predicted, the supposedly "white"
values triumph in the end, and order is restored with the addition of
a reformed black man to the corporate ladder.
Not every film can change the world; these flaws are minor.
"Nothing to Lose" kicks butt. It's an unabashed good time, and may
even be my favorite film of the summer.
Back to Nothing to Lose
Back to the Press Room
Copyright 1994-2008 Film Scouts LLC
Created, produced, and published by Film Scouts LLC
Film Scouts® is a registered trademark of Film Scouts LLC
All rights reserved.
Suggestions? Comments? Fill out our Feedback Form.
