There isn't very much that the near classic comedy "Monty Python And The Holy Grail" wants to accomplish; it's so modest in it's procedures and silly in it's meaning that it's altogether irresistable. What it wants to do is: make you laugh. And it suceeds. Gloriously. It's not a great film but it's funny. It looks like the result of a couple of school boys who were given a camera and a couple hours to film around their premises. Watching it my first time a few nights ago my friend Alex complained of the lack of special effects. "But", I said, "the joke is IN the lack of special effects." Yes. The film accomplishes all it's biggest laughs by showing off how badly it was made. For instance it's funniest moment comes along, perhaps only an hour in as a number of knights arrive, with King Arthur at a castle.
Knight 1: What a castle! Knight 2: It's only a model. King Arthur: Shh.
A little while later, an awfully grumpy god sends them off on a quest to find the holy grail. It's hard not to be amused by the following adventures that eventually lead them to a creepy looking little freak who guards a bridge to the cave that supposedly holds the grail. To cross you must answer three questions; brave Lancelot is the first to approach.
Creepy-looking-freak ( C.L.F ): What's your name? Lancelot: Sir Lancelot. C.L.F: What's your quest? Lancelot: To find the holy grail. C.L.F: What's your favorite color? Lancelot: Blue. C.L.F: Go ahead.
It all looks deceptively easy, doesn't it? I won't spoil what follows by describing it to you; rather I'll let the movie unspool before your eyes, and let you savor the pleasures it has to offer. Every line is a classic. ("She turned me into a newt. Well I got better...".) Every moment is bursting with inspiration ( there's a very funny musical number inside a castle among other hilarious bits and pieces. ) The film is achingly funny; watching it is to experience delight as you realize the filmmakers are pulling your strings, without allowing you to see them. As directed by Terry Giliam ( Brazil ) and Terry Jones it's a non-stop adventure/comedy that takes you on a wild ride and plunks you back in your seat, utterly happy. It also features the most unique ending I'VE ever seen. ( Nothing is resolved. ) It's as if we're being laughed at by the knights of the, um, not-quite-sound table: "Oh, we're sorry - did we waste your 2.5 hours?" Nope. You made a dead-pan comedy of, um, terrors.
Grade: B+
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