And now for something completely ... familiar: Monty Python stars’ final bow a crowd-pleaser
MONTY Python Live (mostly): As an exercise in giving the people what they want, the Python’s last hurrah cannot be faulted.
Leigh Paatsch
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WITH their influence on the planet’s sense of humour as gravitational as ever, the surviving members of the Monty Python troupe have earned the right to take their final bow as they bloody well see fit.
If that means simply re-staging their greatest sketches for five sellout shows at London’s O2 Arena, then so be it.
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This marathon concert chronicle was broadcast live in the UK just a few weeks ago, and the feelings of great goodwill and tremendous silliness in the 16,000-seat stadium that evening gush undistilled from the screen.
As an exercise in giving the people what they want, the Python’s last hurrah cannot be faulted.
All the big hits are ticked off the list: the Four Yorkshiremen, the Dead Parrot, Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, the Lumberjack Song, Every Sperm Is Sacred, the Ministry of Silly Walks, and so on.
A smattering of new material doesn’t quite cut it like the old stuff — the same applies to a few awkward celeb cameos — and sometimes the timing and pacing could have been sharper.
Nevertheless, as a last hurrah, this a worthy send-off for a bunch who changed the very notion of what is funny for the better.
Fittingly, it all ends in a majestic chorus of Always Look On the Bright Side of Life.
It will be just that little bit more difficult to do now that the Pythons are gone.
■ Monty Python Live (mostly) screens in select cinemas from Saturday, August 9.
Monty Python Live (mostly)
Director: Eric Idle (documentary debut)
Starring: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam
Verdict: Three stars. And now for something completely ... familiar
Originally published as And now for something completely ... familiar: Monty Python stars’ final bow a crowd-pleaser
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