Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life **** (1983, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones) – Classic Movie Review 2984

Terry Jones again directs and stars in the slightly less brilliant fourth Monty Python movie Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life in 1983. And, rather than something completely different, it is of course again written by and stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and Jones.

The Meaning of Life takes on the entire life cycle in only 107 minutes as the Pythons present their version of why we are here and who cares anyway. It represents a return to the original TV-style format of sketches rather than a narrative.

This format results in an A-Z gamut from moments of hysterical hilarity – Jones’s Mr Creosote and his ever enlarging girth and the big production number ‘Every Sperm is Sacred’ – to less amusing and successful routines, such as the overlong ‘dinner party of death’ or Idle’s Penis Song ‘Isn’t It Awfully Nice to Have a Penis?’

It is, as ever, guaranteed to amuse or to offend everybody who sees it with its naughty goings-on and frequent exposure of bodily parts. As Michael Palin puts it, the film ‘ranges from philosophy to history to medicine to halibut – especially halibut’. Sounds a bit fishy!

Also in the cast are Carol Cleveland, Simon Jones, Valerie Whittington, Patricia Quinn, Judy Loe, Andrew MacLachlan and Mark Holmes. Jane Leeves is an uncredited dancer.

Gilliam directs the animation and special sequence. It is photographed by Peter Hannan but Roger Pratt is the cinematographer for the segment The Crimson Permanent Assurance.

Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life runs 107 minutes and 112 minutes in the 2003 restored director’s cut.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2984

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