Monty Python's The Meaning of Life 1983

Paid this old fave a visit. 2017 has been dry on comedy, certainly anything as broad as this. And over the years I've come to accept that this final work by the Pythons was a bit flawed and undercooked, but its still a fine culmination and final bow by all of the members.

Whats impressive is how the boys followed diverse paths after their success but still found common ground. Each skit feels like a philosophical argument of wits but tied together by a common mantra, finally revealed in their last written scene together.

The unity is tense.

• Eric Idle is of course interested in building a musical comedy franchise from the Python gimmick (and he would eventually succeed!)
• Terry Jones is trying to lend the film as much cinematic credibility as possible
• Terry Gilliam wants to keep it as absurd and infantile as can be
• John Cleese has an inner struggle to not be the scene-stealing ham he loves being
• Michael Palin just wants to be as funny as everyone else and keep them all friends
• and Graham Chapman is channeling the last of his rage against the WASPy machine as he can in what would be the final years of his life

"Meaning" will always be my favorite work by the group because their motives are so clear here as matured, honest and satisfied masters of what they do. They aren't the crazy amateurs of "Flying Circus" or the reunited icons of "Holy Grail" or the ambitious artists of "Life of Brian". They're just some friendly clowns still trying to get the best laughs of their career.

The whole thing has a sad finality to it. It must've been the reflecting on mortality and their showing age, but the spirit of the film is a farewell to fans. A bit of the writing is clunky but each member stretches more than they ever did. Its refreshing to see a film without any phoned in performances. I think some wanted this to be their magnum opus and others saw it as another check before another check. So there's a mix of seriousness with frivolity, which harms the consistency of the humor but also keeps it from becoming too much "Brian" or "Grail". This is a great summary of both hemispheres of their combined brain.

Skit by skit is the only way to cover the action.

1. The Crimson Permanent Assurance - A great opening. It ties in thematically with everything to come while remaining Gilliam's personal statement. Shows just how sympatico the whole team was when the most individualistic & unique member is echoing the sentiments of 5 others.
2. Miracle of Birth Pt 1 - This is light lifting for John & Graham, but its spot-on. Philosophical, juvenile, mean, sympathetic, pissed off and hilarious. And of course a bit metaphysically romantic and heartbreaking. Its a great closer to John & Graham's troubled but true bromance.
3. Miracle of Birth Pt 2 - Finally, Michael & Jonesy outdo John & Graham head-to-head with the thanks of Eric and Graham himself. Its pretty risky to take on Catholicism with such snarling jokes, but thats what they do best. Visually, this is probably the best part of the film and the succession of pointed, brilliant jokes gives ya goosebumps.
4. Growth & Learning - Probably my favorite writing in the whole film. John Cleese fires on all cylinders and you just stew in how brutally witty this guy is at dismantling religion, sex, nationality and any social construct he can work into a skit about ejaculation.
5. Fighting Each Other - 3-part skit that brings down the humor and action. My least favorite? The beginning and ending are kinda painfully predictable and dated topically, but the African skit is really some of the BEST stuff to involve multiple Pythons. Because its them doing what they do best: making fun of British history. The subtle deadpan from John, Eric & Graham is exquisite master class stuff.
6. The Middle of the Film - Perfect. This was probably the most insane scene to play in theaters in the 1980s.
7. Middle Age - Kinda dry and dumb but has a few good lines and Eric is fabulous as a woman for the 2nd of 3 times.
8. Live Organ Transplants - John, Graham & Gilliam being weird, brutal and darkly satirical. This seems like a deleted scene from "Brazil". Doesn't fit but... it fits because the whole joke is that this has nothing to do with anything. But it does summarize middle age I fear.
9. The Autumn Years - Despite John & Jonesy having the most trying friendship in the group, they play off each other so beautifully. They might have the best chemistry in the entire film. And this is the ultimate example of their extreme "Mutt & Jeff" S&M chess game. This is the most dazzling bit of comic directing and vaudeville acting in the whole film. And the way other members (even, Carol Cleveland) are incorporated is superb. Eric's epilogue is wonderful too.
10. Death - 3 part sketch, all dazzling. Poetic, gorgeous black comedy. Each scene really is a tearjerker and gave me gooseflesh. There's so much closure in their collective career playing out and it mirrors the strange downfall of the 20th century and the end of the film itself. Its their most meta of meta moments and a PERFECT final sketch.
11.  The End of the Film - Cherry on top that ties 30 years of stupidity and genius back to their very first sketch on TV. You couldn't plan a better finale for a comedy troupe. It had to have been an intuitive choice that just happened to work.

Ya know, I'm surprised they didn't pursue bigger solo careers because everyone is a mega star in this film. I guess the team brought out that magic in the individuals. God, I wish we got comedy films like this later. Brain Candy, Anchorman 2 and Tim & Eric's whole career have tried valiantly, but its not even 2/3rds of "Meaning of Life". Its probably the most ambitious comedy film to actually work more than not. Shit, most dramas aren't this smart, serious or beautiful.