The Meaning Of Monty Python
- TV documentary
- Sky Arts
- 2013
- 1 episode
A discussion between John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones about their film The Meaning of Life. Features John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Press clippings
The 30th anniversary of The Meaning Of Life is another excuse for the five remaining Pythons to get together and reminisce. No need for an interviewer as they bounce observations among themselves, comparing memories of the movie's making before tut-tutting on the wider state of modern comedy production. They're looking elderly but their wits are undimmed; only when John Cleese singles out sketches in The Meaning Of Life in which Terry Jones starred as the film's weakest does a shadow of animosity flicker across proceedings.
David Stubbs, The Guardian, 24th October 2013Essentially a Python reunion (Cleese, Palin, Jones and Gilliam in London; Idle via videolink in LA), this opens with the gang catching up and going off at amusing tangents (Palin tries to make out the book titles on Idle's shelf; Gilliam says Francis Bacon died in his house; they all join in with The Philosophers Song).
It's when they're nudge-nudged about why they've been brought together (to discuss The Meaning of Life film, 30 this year) that the programme becomes a little less fun - but a lot more interesting. The quality of the discarded material - and all the hilarious riffing - reminds you why the Pythons were such a potent collective. It's a must for Monty maniacs everywhere.
Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 24th October 2013TV review: The Meaning of Monty Python
John Cleese's mini-rant on the changing commissioning priorities of comedy's "executive class" should be required viewing for every TV producer in the land.
Ellen E Jones, The Independent, 24th October 2013