The best of the Monty Python films, it has a proper story arc

Rating: 10/10 (2 May 2001)

Acerbic, very witty commentary on many subjects: religion, crime and punishment, cultural mixing, politics, etc, mixed with sublimely ridiculous set pieces ("Centuwion, I'm surpwised to see you wattled by a wabble of wowdy webels!", "Crucifixion's a doddle", "No-one is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle") and finished off with the tragi-comic song, "Always look on the bright side of life". This is the only truly complete Monty Python film - The Holy Grail, while having some achingly hilarious moments, never really hangs together and loses direction completely in the last quarter, while The Meaning of Life and And Now For Something Completely Different are both extended sketch shows. It isn't really the life of Brian - it's his birth and about the last week or so before his death, but he packs quite a lot into a week!