‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian’ follows a parallel story in the time of Jesus

Monty Python’s Life of Brian is usually not ranked as highly as the comedy troupe’s Holy Grail classic, and that’s for good reason. Although Life of Brian provides plenty of laughs, there’s something missing from the narrative. Perhaps the jokes feel a bit dated or the humor is too difficult to appreciate, but Life of Brian registers simply as a funny movie — nothing more, nothing less.

Graham Chapman plays the title role, a character who grows up in the same neighborhood as Jesus. From his infancy, when the three wise men make their visit, Brian is mistaken for the messiah. People pray at his feet, and his mother (Terry Jones) tries to grab some of the spotlight among the local crowd. The problem is that Brian is a simple man, someone who wants to live his life removed from the throngs of adorers.

As Life of Brian proceeds, there are many one-liners about religion, namely Christianity and the Bible. Many of the jokes are quite funny and still land this many years after the movie’s release, but even Monty Python diehards have to admit that some of the scenes are too long and some of the humor has faded with time. There’s still plenty of chuckles, making Life of Brian a must for any comedy fan, but its excellence feels less based on biting social criticism and more on easy jokes.

John Cleese, as can be expected, offers several hilarious portraits. In fact, the entire Monty Python crew shows its ability at multitasking with precise skill. Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin are present and accounted for, offering their unique takes on a motley variety of funny characters, both male and female.

Several scenes from the movie have become part of comedic history, even when the entire film fails to weave a complete fabric. The ending sequence involving a chorus of crucified men singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” still gets the head bobbing. The famous blasphemy scene is still funny, with its crowd of women, er, I mean men, looking on. I love the scene when the group talks about the political movements in the arena setting.

Maybe the dilemma with the movie is that Brian is the least interesting part. There’s no humor in this man. The funny moments circulate around him, but he never seems to take part in the invention of foolishness.

Watching Life of Brian is always enjoyable, and it’s still better than most comedies. You only have to put these comedians in the same room with a bunch of wigs and funky costumes and it’s easy to fall in love with the bountiful creativity. However, I’m wondering whether the comedy in this particular output is growing more distant as time goes by. Is appreciating this humor still possible in today’s cinematic culture, where laughs are not as well-earned as Monty Python was able to achieve? I want to love the movie, but I find myself only enjoying it. Perhaps that’s enough.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@Hollywoodsoapbox.com

• Monty Python’s Life of Brian

• 1979

• Directed by Terry Jones

• Written by Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin

• Starring Jones, Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle and Palin

• Running time: 94 minutes

• Rated R

• Rating: