Review of Life of Brian (1979) by Peter A — 16 Jan 2010

Laugh? I certainly did and defy any but po-faced zealots not to do the same. Of course it is irreverent, so unsuitable for viewing at the Quaker Christmas party.

There are so many hilarious clips that it is difficult to know where to start. There is: What have the Romans ever done for us?; The lesson of verb conjugation to the graffiti-writer; Bigus Dickus; The tortured soul claiming that being hung upside down in a cell is luxury; Eric Idle slipping away as a well-wisher assumes the burden of his cross - the list is endless.

Sustaining one joke for longer than half-an-hour takes skill, something the Pythons have never lacked.

Brian walks a fine line, which it frequently crosses without reaching a no-go zone. It is, however, touch and go for the Pythons. Their argument has always been that religion - any religion -should be big enough to withstand an occasional dig in the ribs.

If God exists and has a sense of humour, which, if our individual lives are anything to go by He does, one could imagine Him permitting Himself a wry smile at this.