Help Help, I'm being Oppressed!

Rating: 9/10 (5 July 2000)

A marvellous film that will have anyone with a slightly silly disposition fall in love with. Its typical Python from the the TV series, with rapid irreverent clips interlacing the rather scatty story of Arthur looking for the Holy Grail.
Of course a lot of criticism was directed at the apparently limp & sudden ending, with perhaps audiences expecting a punchline to appear shortly after but was never forthcoming. Its true that the ending was a little confusing but its typical Python, coupled with a dwindling budget and a lack of ideas as to how to really end the film.
Holy Grail looks pail compared to the latter Life of Brian movie which enjoyed a larger budget from a bigger studio. But Grail had the virginal charm that perhaps wasn't very apparent with Brian; everything seemed very adhoc, adlibbed & incidental which gave the movie a sparkling & refreshing charm about it.
There are many scenes where the attempt at humour falls on deaf ears, but this is to be expected. It would be rare indeed to find a movie that retained its humour throughout. But a large proportion of the jokes do succeed, big time. Especially the Bring Out Your Dead scene and the Black Knight at the bridge - sick, but excellent.
John Cleese has always been my favourite Python actor and I kept on half expecting him to reprise his dead Parrot sketch somehow.
My favourite Python film of all - it had charm. wit, exuberance, energy and plenty of good laughs to boot!
***/*****