Following a controversial American premiere in August 1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian opened in Britain in November, sparking an even more hysterical protest in which the film was banned by individual community councils—even after the government censors gave it a pass. In response, two members of the famously intellectual and provocative comedy group—John Cleese (Darren Boyd) and Michael Palin (Charles Edwards)—agreed to debate British satirist Malcolm Muggeridge and the Archbishop of York on a British talk show. Filmmaker Owen Harris's Holy Flying Circus tells this story, presenting it in the manner of a Python comedy, complete with animated interludes, comic detours, caricatured personalities, and plenty of satirical asides. The British TV movie adopts a cheeky approach while exploring the chemistry and conflicts within the comedy group, but it can't help but come across like a second-generation retread of the troupe's original material. The film finally plays it straight for the recreation of the debate, where the jokester Pythons took the issue seriously and defended their film against the establishment figures, who come across as cynical showmen playing for laughs. An obscure piece of cultural history for most Americans, this uneven film is mainly for diehard Python fans. Optional. (S. Axmaker)
Holy Flying Circus
Acorn, 2 discs, 99 min., not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $34.99 Volume 27, Issue 6
Holy Flying Circus
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