FIlm Review: Life Of Brian (1979) B-

Date Viewed: 7/15/06
Venue: DVD

Life Of Brian is British comedy troupe Monty Pyton's return to the big screen after the immense success of 1975's Monty Python & The Holy Grail. This time, the satirical bunch introduce us to Brian (Graham Chapman), who has the misfortune of being born on the original Christmas and spends the rest of his life (and the film) being mistaken for a messiah.

Absurdity abounds in this parody as Brian must continually deflect the admiration and adoration of misguided Jews while avoiding the wrath of bumbling Romans in ancient Jerusalem. The Montys are here in full force, making light of the origins of Christianity, torture, and even the crucifiction itself.

Admittedly, I'm not a huge British comedy fan (see my review of Holy Grail), but Life Of Bryan does have some inspired moments; such as John Cleese's abundantly daft Roman captain who gives poor Brian a lesson in graffiti grammar, and the exploits of Brian's followers, who take his every step or stumble to be a divine message of some kind.

I enjoyed Life Of Brian, but not too much. It lacks Holy Grails' sense of complete whimsy. Too many scenes run long, dependent on a one-note joke that wears its welcome quicikly. I hesitate to call this a disappointment, but it just can't quite live up to its predecessor. Not that much could.