Monty Python: The Meaning Of Live

Film review: 'Monty Python: The Meaning of Live'

The famed British comedy troupe's first live gigs in 34 years are chronicled in this affectionate docu.

There's a strange melancholy hanging over this documentary, which charts the lead-up to the Pythons' O2 comeback shows. Perhaps it's because the now-fragile fivesome were somewhat forced into it. "You don't get wiser as you get older," sighs John Cleese. "It's a myth." Were they "doing this out of duty" to us, someone asks at a press conference? "What the fuck do we owe you?" Eric Idle snaps, and everybody laughs. Idle doesn't. Only after a pause does he remember to smile.

Radio Times review

There is a case to be made for killing every critic on Earth. Monty Python, the men who invented proper comedy, reunited for a live show at the O2 and we drowned it in snotty articles. Are they too old? Are they still funny? We were so busy trying to find a clever angle we forgot to laugh.

This documentary is a chance to relive the historic moment, divorced from the hype. Combining behind-the-scenes footage with a history of the troupe, it's a surprisingly frank affair, particularly on the money issues that dragged the Pythons on stage.

Actually, you could write an interesting article about how Python rebelled against the traditional class system only to fall prey to modern ultra-capitalism. Oh God. Please, someone stop me.