Nothing to Lose

Nick Beam, a stressed advertising executive, discovers his wife is cheating and his world teeters on the edge. A bungling thief tries to carjack him, yet Nick ends up commandeering the situation instead. The pair form an uneasy partnership, turning their misfortune into a plan to rob the people who wronged them and settle the score. As they pool wit and risk, rivals in the neighborhood sense a chance to cash in and close the gap, turning a simple vendetta into a dangerous game. They dodge traps, misread signals, and improvise when plans collapse, all while a larger criminal underworld closes in. The movie blends brisk action with comic misadventure and sharp, witty exchanges. The humor lands with sharp timing.

Directed by Steve Oedekerk, Nothing to Lose hit theaters in 1997 as a high energy crime comedy. It rests on an original screenplay rather than adaptation, leaning on improvisational humor and the chemistry of its star pair to land jokes.

Against a 25 million budget, the film grossed about 44.48 million worldwide, marking it as a solid, if modest, box office success for a late 90s comedy. It resonated with audiences seeking light action and laughs in 90s film market.

Critics treated Nothing to Lose as a brisk crowd pleaser that thrives on banter and the clash between two unlikely allies. The film probes trust and revenge while swapping risk for humor, using the heist frame to explore aspiration versus consequence. The balance between chase and joke keeps momentum high.

Nothing to Lose may not be a defining classic, but it captures the late 90s mood of rapid pacing and buddy dynamics. Martin Lawrence's unbridled energy and Robbins's cool counterpoint deliver several memorable sequences, making it a dependable example of how mid budget studio comedies can blend action and humor.