Tag Archives: eric-idle

Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life (1983)

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And so we have reached the end of the 2024 Genre-ary DailyView: Musicals. After a full month of classical musicals or stage shows shot as a film, we wrap up this year’s Genre-ary with EYG Hall of Famers Monty Python and one of their funniest, if not chaotic films, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life. 

Monty Python consisted of six main individuals: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. 

This film stitched together a series of sketches featuring the immense talents of these six men. It was shocking at times. At times it was raunchy. At times it was offensive. Above all else, it was, at all times, really funny.

Admittedly, there was a scene including vomit jokes, which I have NEVER been a fan of, but this was about as funny as I will find these scenes. 

There are some absolutely brilliant songs involved too including “Every Sperm is Sacred,” “Penis Song (Not The Noël Coward Song),” “Galaxy Song,” “Christmas in Heaven,” and “Meaning of Life.” These are uproariously funny. I love “Every Sperm…” and “Penis Song.”

Some of the skits do not work as well as others, but there are so many outstanding moments that I really was pleased that I scheduled this to conclude the Genre-ary. 

Eric Idle’s What About Dick (2012)

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Today’s Genre-ary DailyView has put me in a joyous mood. I had such a blast with this film on Netflix from 2012. Eric Idle of Monty Python fame brought together a crew of amazing comedic actors from the British Isles for a one of a kind comedy event.

The crew presented a story in the manner of a radio play, on stage in front of a live audience, reading, singing and performing with a script in hand and sound effects from behind. As one would come to expect from a Python alum, the writing of the play is sharp and witty, filled with a ton of double entendres. Historically, I have not been a fan of this type of humor, but when it is as well written and clever as this, well, it works extremely well.

The cast is spectacular. It included Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Tim Curry, Billy Connolly, Russell Brand, Jane Leeves, Tracey Ullman, Jim Piddock and Sophie Winkleman. Seeing these amazing performers playing multiple characters and desperately trying to keep from laughing was some of the most enjoyable aspects of it. Billy Connolly was on the verge of losing it seemingly every time he started speaking.

According to IMDB, “This movie begins with the birth of a sex toy invented in Shagistan in 1898 by Deepak Obi Ben Kingsley (Eddie Izzard), and tells the story of the subsequent decline of the British Empire as seen through the eyes of a Piano (Eric Idle). The Piano narrates the tale of Dick (Russell Brand); his two cousins: Emma Schlegel (Jane Leeves), an emotionally retarded English girl; her kleptomaniac sister Helena (Sophie Winkleman) and their dipsomaniac Aunt Maggie (Tracey Ullman) who all live together in a large, rambling, Edwardian novel. When the Reverend Whoopsie (Tim Curry) discovers a piano on a beach, a plot is set afoot that can be solved only by a private Dick, the incomprehensible Scottish sleuth Inspector McGuffin (Sir Billy Connolly), who, with the aid of Sergeant Ken Russell (Jim Piddock) finally reveals the identity of the Houndsditch Mutilator.”

Tracey Ullman is brilliant in this play. Tim Curry is always a joy. Billy Connolly is amazing with his Scottish dialect. The entire cast does a sensational job voice acting, with knowing looks and glances at the camera on the stage show. 

Without the Genre-ary, I would have never watched this film, and I would have missed out on one of the most engaging and enjoyable 86 minutes I have seen in a long time. This was a wondrous piece of entertainment.