The reason this movie failed
This is arguably one of the best 'black' movies ever made but the reason it didn't succeed commercially or even critically is probably the actors. Both EM and ML are great and they do a fantastic job here by bringing just the right amount and type of humor to keep the movie entertaining yet not taking anything away from the drama. BUT after Nutty Professor and Nothing to Lose, I think that everyone expected a bottomless pit of fart jokes and 'silly black guy' antics and they did not find any of that here.
Everyone, myself included, left the theater disappointed by the failure of this film to provide the crazy fun ride it was supposed to. It's only when I watched it years later, on a DVD, that I realized what a great movie this was.
I'd go as far as to say that Life had more drama than Precious or any other similarly hyped black movie that tries way too hard and uses obvious cheap tricks to squeeze a wound for more blood. It's a damn shame too because we won't see anything like this again.