Today’s quick review: Life of Brian. While Jesus preaches around Judea, a young Jewish man named Brian (Graham Chapman) leads an altogether less consequential existence. Brian’s hatred of the Romans earns him a spot in the People’s Front of Judea, a would-be revolutionary organization dedicated to driving the Romans out of Judea. But circumstances beyond his control force Brian into the role of a hero and a messiah, a burden he’s not ready to bear.
Life of Brian is a historical comedy from Monty Python that spoofs the life of Jesus Christ. True to Monty Python tradition, nearly all of the key parts are played by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, with several repetitions. The plot is structured as a series of comedy sketches, but unlike other Monty Python films, the scenes form a coherent whole, with a peculiar but complete story.
Life of Brian’s comedy is a combination of historical jokes, petty bickering, and direct parody, all soaked in the surreality Monty Python is known for. The dialogue is endlessly quotable, and the film packs an impressive number of memorable scenes into its hour-and-a-half. The cast consists of veteran comedians who perform superbly together. The humor skewers the most ridiculous aspects of human nature but retains a touch of optimism.
How palatable you find the subject matter will depend on your perspective. Life of Brian parodies the events of the New Testament, but the film takes few direct shots at Jesus. Instead it pokes fun at human folly in its various forms, from the ungrateful complaints of an ex-leper to the doctrinal squabblings of a crowd following a false messiah. Devout Christians may wish to skip it, but its barbs are less religious than they first appear.
Try Life of Brian when you’re in the mood for a witty and fundamentally absurd comedy. Life of Brian is one of Monty Python’s more coherent films, and its keen wit and broadly accessible humor have made it a classic. Skip it you’re averse to raunchy humor, absurdity, or jabs at Christianity. For an eclectic comedy in a similar vein, check out Monty Python and the Holy Grail or Mel Brooks movies such as Spaceballs or History of the World: Part 1.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for excellent humor, memorable dialogue, and a reasonably well-developed plot.