Holy Flying Circus Review

• 7th Feb 2012

For those around when it was originally released in 1979, there was a lot of criticism, lobbying and protesting toward Monty Python’s Life Of Brian. A film generally considered one of the best comedies of all time. It’s subject matter was blasphemous, it’s portrayal of Christ was awful and it’s jokes were second rate. Allegedly.

This 90 minute feature documents the struggles the Monty Python cast and crew dealt with at this time. But, in both a traditional and unique take, Holy Flying Circus truly puts a Python spin on the turn of events. In the lead up to a live television debate regarding Life Of Brian, Michael Palin, John Cleese and co. are portrayed just as we’ve seen them on screen in their various guises.

We see the same lunacy, same deadpan humour, same cutaway gags that Pythons are famous for. That is, until the debate itself, when the film takes a turn for the serious. Charles Edwards and Darren Boyd, portraying Palin and Cleese respectively, show the ability to turn hilarity into sincerity with unbelievable ease. We see this drama unfold in the same vein as can be seen by finding the original footage.

As a fan of all the original Python films, this was a welcome surprise. While I did indeed expect a thoroughly serious documentary about the death threats received by the Pythons, the first fart joke made me laugh more than any I’ve heard before. Childish? Maybe, but you can never put on a brave face when it comes to Python.

Edwards’ portrayal of Palin is, in itself, a delight as he has the man down to a tee. But it is Boyd as Cleese (or, if you believe, his portrayal as Basil Fawlty), which steals the show. It is mainly these two characters around which the film revolves, as their opposing distinctive qualities bounce off one another throughout.

For a television movie, this does tick most boxes. It uses poetic license and dramatises some facts, but then again most documentaries do. But what makes this documentary unique is the Python-esque dramatisation of events, making you wish that another Python movie could ever be released. However, Holy Flying Circus will more than keep your desire at bay.

Also, look out for the devout Christian plagued with Tourettes.

Chris Droney