Erik the Viking

Members of the Monty Python troupe turned out two fantasy adventures last year. Terry Gilliam's wondrous The Adventures of Baron Munchaüsen was unfairly drubbed by the majority of critics; especially uncalled for, in that it was arguably the most imaginative film of the year. Erik the Viking, written and directed by Pythoner Terry Jones, is the other. From its opening, in which Erik (Tim Robbins) questions the meaning of life while debating whether to rape a villager, one senses that a grand misfire is in the making. After speaking with a wise woman, Erik assembles his fellow Vikings, and the expedition sets off to find the "Horn Resounding" which, once blown, will awaken the gods, end the current ice age, and supposedly bring a period of peace and prosperity to the world. Sight gags-a Python staple-are regularly trotted out to hide the gaping holes in the dialog (much of which seems to have been improvised on the set). Some of these quick visual jabs are very effective, but too often Jones lets his characters mumble on and on to each other in scenes that carry on for two or three minutes after the punch line has been delivered. By the time the Vikings reach Valhalla, and discover that the gods are, in fact, bratty kids, the audience-especially one familiar with the Pythonesque brand of humor-already knows what's coming. Pythoner John Cleese provides some spark with his bored despot role as Halfdon the Black, but for the most part a poor script and half-hearted acting make Erik the Viking a leaky vehicle indeed. Not recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review—Jan. 8, 2008—MGM, 79 min., not rated, $19.98—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1989's Erik the Viking (The Director's Son's Cut) boasts a fine transfer. DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Terry Jones, a half-hour 'making-of' featurette from 1989, a 10-minute 'Terry and Bill: Behind the Director's Son's Cut' featurette, an image gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a lame film.]