![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/m/mp-lifeofbrian.jpg)
Monty Python's Life of Brian
From the moment of his birth, Brian is mistaken for greatness. The infamous Three Wise Men visit his mother with gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - until they realize the true Messiah was actually born a few mangers down. As an adult Jew in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, Brian's brushes with blessedness continue - from his role as an activist with the Judean Peoples Front, his stint as a reluctant Chosen One, and finally his musical crucifixion. This is Biblical storytelling, courtesy of Monty Python — rife with irreverence, absurdity, and the occasional bollocks humor. And, although there is typically little in the way of socially relevant humor from the famed English comedy troupe, they do emphasize in this film some of the more ridiculous aspects of religious culture - from warring splinter groups to blind zealotry. Graham Chapman plays Brian, while his fellow Pythons — John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones (who also directed) — jump from costume to costume throughout the group's most consistently funny — albeit technically crude — romp. The closing song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" has become a minor classic. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen (16x9 enhanced) and Dolby 1.0. The only extra is the awful theatrical trailer, which really makes you appreciate the evolution of the craft since the '70s.
—Gregory P. Dorr
