Rating- 8.5 out of 10
The Python's final film is more daring than anything they'd ever done before. Meaning of Life is crude, gross, offensive, and very, very funny. The film contains some of Eric's best songs, Terry Gilliam's best animations, and some of Terry Jones's weirdest ideas.
No one Python stars in this, unlike Holy Grail or Life of Brian, but there is very little of Graham Chapman or John Cleese, who had starred in their past films. Idle, Jones, and Palin really shine.
The film attempts to explain the meaning of life, the ultimate meaning of it all. And actually, they do a great job. I swear to God a bit in here about corperate executives trying to explain the meaning of life actually does make a lot of sense. The Pythons are the best people in the world to explain this, they're rational and realistic and take a humorous angle. There are parts that are truly disturbing (And not just Terry Jones exploding, but also Eric Idle's bitter soldier saluting his commanding officer with a handless arm.) and others that are just shocking, but every second is pure truth. There are things in the film you won't want to see, because it exposes, with raw honesty, many of our flaws and leaves us feeling insignificant in the universe. But it's meant to do that, to wake you up a bit.
There are sketches from all different areas of life. A young woman discovers the rush of a hospital childbirth, a Catholic sells his many children for scientific experiments because he can't afford to feed them, a teacher gives a live sex demonstration in front of a bored class, a rugby team turns unusually violent, wartime soldiers say one last good bye to their commanding officer, two unusual men steal another man's leg, a couple of American's on vacation find they have nothing to talk about, an untimely liver donor is killed while donating his liver to save lives, a rich but fat and rude man eats until he literally explodes, a disgruntled waiter offers his view on life, death comes knocking at a dinner party, and we get a little peek at what's waiting in heaven (Apparently it involves a lot more cheesy singing and nudity then I thought.)
This film, though it's reverted back to the sketch form, is brilliant. Brutally honest, and hilarious at the same time, Meaning of Life is one Python's greatest achievements. The songs are catchy and lavish, the sketches are right on target, and as always, the acting is perfect.
As stated earlier, this is Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and Terry Jones' movie. Cleese stars in two sketches and barley graces the others. Chapman is a bit more involved, but not to a great extent. Michael Palin plays (Among other roles.) a delightful priest, humbling himself before God; a desperate Catholic father; one half of the tiger/leg stealers; an American man on vacation; and an unusually kind drill Sargent. Eric Idle is wonderful as a rather witty song writer; the other half of the 'tiger'/leg snatcher' also the rather calm victim whose leg was taken; a bitter soldier (in a profound moment of the film); an American woman on vacation; an embarrassed hostess; and a mysterious philosopher that lives in the freezer.
This is one of my favourite Python productions. The look and feel is different, but the comedy and message are the same.
Eric content: Very high, he's in many scenes, sings many good songs, and after seeing him as Gaston you will want to follow him home.
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