Brilliant, One Of The Best Comedies Of All Time

Rating: Null/10 (30 November 2002)

Here's something we don't see too often. A satire that is actually intelligent. Life Of Brian is thoughtful, insightful, transcendental and original. Oh yeah, and it's a laugh riot. You are guaranteed some good laughs from this movie, unless you are particularly dull or particularly religious, in either case you really shouldn't be watching it anyway.
If you are open-minded, however, you will find a movie that is as smart as it is funny. The movie opens on the eve of the first Christmas. The three wise men make their way across the desert to the small town of Bethlehem. There, in a lowly stable, they find a small child wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Unfortunately, they got the wrong kid. Jesus is a few doors down, and they're kneeling at the feet of Brian.
The movie persues this question further as the movie goes on. What if, in mankind's search for a savior, we got the wrong man? What if we bestowed our faith and trust in someone who didn't want it in the first place? Through a series of events, Brian (Graham Chapman) grows up to join an extremist anti-Roman group, the People's Front of Judea. While trying to escape a group of pursuing guards, Brian disguises himself as a cornerside soapbox preacher. This backfires when a crowd gathers and quickly decides that he is the Messiah.
This concept is ripe for satire and the Pythons don't miss a beat. When Brian loses a shoe trying to escape, the throng instantly declares it a holy relic, and just as quickly gets into an argument on whether it's a shoe or a sandal. When told that they are all individuals, a large crowd agrees in unison. Brian's fans ask him how to think for themselves. The real message of Life Of Brian is that people should decide for themselves what to believe, instead of blindly following what is forced upon them. A message of peace is also delivered. As Python Eric Idle said on the release of this movie, "Jesus said all these beautiful things about loving and caring for others, and people have killed each other for years about what he said, how he said it, etc."
Of course, all this would be out of context without humor, which Life Of Brian dolls out in bowlfuls. Particularly funny is the character of Pontius Pilate, who speaks with a speech impediment that renders him unable to say the letter "R," which of course, seriously undermines his authority. Also memorable are scenes involving a public stoning, a lesson in haggling, and of course, the unforgettable closing musical number, "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life." That's good advice, and mine is to start by picking up Life Of Brian.
(****/****)