Monty Python and the Holy Grail

RATING: ½


By Shawn McKenna
Date Reviewed: 10/27/2000

"I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" -- French Soldier

One of my favorite comedies, and Monty Python's best and most irreverent movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The Monty Python troop made three films and had a television series that challenged the status quo by dealing with religion, class welfare, politics and dead parrots. There humor seems as fresh and rebellious today as when it was aired. Sometimes their humor was forced -- some scenes in The Meaning of Lif(e) ; however, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has the perfect mix of antitoletarism, irreverence and silly sots.

Speaking of silly sots, the cast of this film -- including Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin -- would later take Hollywood like a fierce Killer Rabbit. The kind that lops off men's 'eds' with fangs three-feet long. Monty Python never quite made the mainstream in America; nevertheless, its actors (and directors) did.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail remains a cult favorite amongst geeky young males who play Magic in comic book shops. Many of these men grow up to be comic writers or shrubbery salesmen. These comic writers find many ways to allude (or just plain mention) many scenes in this movie. Examples are the Simpsons, the now defunct Freaks and Geeks and the title of Scorcese's Bringing Out the Dead. However, there is more to this film than fanatical fans. It is the antithesis to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, it is a cult movie that is actually good.

Reviews on movies like this one are difficult to write because the charm and essence of the film are in its characters and insane skits. Recapping the plot does nothing to convey the essence of the film unless you write it in an irreverent or silly manner. Since I am beyond that type of blasphemous writing, I should either plod on or quit and do my laundry.

I would rather do my laundry later, so I will go on.

This film was loosely based on King Arthur and the Holy Grail. I am also sure this film was loosely based on a script. Though the plot is chaotic and the cast few, the movie is funny and witty. My only disagreement with the movie is the forced ending. That is only a scratch, a mere flesh wound to this brilliant comedy -- a fanatical farce that is one of my favorite movies.



MONTY PTYHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)
CAST
King Arthur + minor roles: Graham Chapman
Sir Launcelot + minor roles: John Cleese
Sir Robin + minor roles: Eric Idle
Sir Bedevere + minor roles: Terry Jones
Sir Galahad/Dennis: Michael Palin
The Camel: Joe the Camel
CREDITS
Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Written by: Graham Chapman, John Cleese etc...
Camel Trainer: Franz Keizehumeumneius
STATS
Running Time: 91m.
Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy
Country: UK


Other Critics:

Roger Ebert ????
Leonard Maltin ½