A Massive Achievement in Satire

Rating: 10/10 (11 December 2019)

Because it so loudly cuts against the trappings of today's "cancel culture," 1979's "Monty Python's Life of Brian" arguably now stands as the comedy troupe's most distinguished masterpiece. Filmed in Tunisia while repurposing sets from "Jesus of Nazareth (1977)," this film is perched among the top branches of our very greatest satires. There's no doubt its brilliant fingerprints are all over more modern day parodies and spoofs, from the culturally eviscerating "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)," to fellow religious farce "Sausage Party (2016)," to recent and raunch-heavy music industry satire "Stadium Anthems (2018)."
And the film almost didn't happen. Beatle George Harrison had to dole out millions to save it after the studio pulled out over fears of backlash. Good on ya, George, because what resulted is nothing short of a landmark achievement in comedy. While "Life of Brian" has all the elite DNA of typical Python, it elevates beyond its siblings with an ending for the ages, as the crucifixion itself is repurposed as musical comedy of gleefully poor taste. A choir of convicts nailed into wooden slabs breaks out in song with "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life," cementing the scene as a culturally understood reference point throughout Britain, and in much the same way that "this goes to eleven" from "This Is Spinal Tap (1984)" is established nomenclature in the States.
Sadly, this movie couldn't be made today, as the use of superficially insensitive comedic material to lambaste ignorance has somehow become verboten. What a shame, that. Fortunately, "Monty Python's Life of Brian" wasn't a stage production, and instead remains immortalized on film for the weathering of all shifts in the cultural winds. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)
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WATCHED IT? THEN WATCHLIST:
"Sausage Party (2016),"
"Stadium Anthems (2018),"
"South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)"