Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)

The reunion of the Monty Python team on stage for the first time in over 30 years, and for the last time ever.

Directors:

Eric Idle, Aubrey Powell

Writers:

Graham Chapman, John Cleese

Stars:

John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle

Cast

Credited cast:
John Cleese	...	Llama lecturer / Second Yorkshireman / Man with Big Fish / Armless Officer / Batley Townswoman / Pope Julius II / Klaus / Vocational Guidance Counsellor / Sports Reporter / Archimedes / Eric Praline / Himself / Pepperpot / Albatross Seller / Miss Anne Elk / Mr. Barnard
Terry Gilliam	...	Spanish Dancer / Batley Townswoman / Pope's Servant / Mountie / Kant / Second Bruce / Constable Parrot / Himself / Pepperpot (Dvd version) / Professor D.P. Gumby / Sir Norman Barry Castle / Conrad Poohs / Cardinal Fang / I've got two legs singer
Eric Idle	...	Spanish Guitarist / First Yorkshireman / Miss Rita Fairbanks / Michelangelo / Brewer / Socrates / First Bruce / Graham aka Hamrag Yatlerot / Himself / First Poofy Judge / Arthur Nudge / Chris / Man in Pink / Mr. Bun / Angela
Terry Jones	...	Spanish Guitarist / Third Yorkshireman / Batley Townswoman / Mrs. Blackitt / Laparche / Mountie / Karl Marx / Mr.Hilton / Himself / Pepperpot / Albatross Person / Pub customer / Cardinal Biggles / Abuser / Spam Waitress / Fiona Portland-Smythe / Mrs. Brown
Michael Palin	...	Spanish Man / Fourth Yorkshireman / Man with Small Fishes / Batley Townswoman / Harry Blackitt / Polinski / Mr. Anchovy / Lumberjack / Juan Stoppa / Nietzsche / Third Bruce / Interviewer / Himself / Pepperpot (Dvd version) / Second Poofy Judge / Nobby / Cardinal Ximenez / Argument Customer / Pet Shop Emplyee / Henry Wensleydale / Debbie Katzenberg
Graham Chapman	...	The Colonel / Professor R.J. Canning / Batley Townswoman / Abe Seagull / Hegel / Tony Bennett (archive footage)
Carol Cleveland	...	Spanish Señorita / Virgin Mary / Best Girl / Punk Bruce / Mrs. Brown / Argument Secretary / Mrs. Bun / Herself
Samuel Holmes	...	Various Roles (as Sam Holmes)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Cox	...	Himself (as Professor Brian Cox OBE)
John Du Prez	...	Conductor
Stephen Hawking	...	Himself (as Stephen Hawking CH CBEFRS FRSA)
Ian Henderson	...	MC
Eddie Izzard	...	Guest Bruce

Storyline

The reunion of the Monty Python team on stage for the first time in over 30 years, and for the last time ever, was the most anticipated production of 2014. Filmed on the final night of the run of ten sold out performances, live at London's O2 Arena on 20 July, Monty Python Live (mostly) - One Down Five to Go sees the five surviving members - John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin - together with Carol Cleveland, perform many of their classic sketches and much-loved songs. The show also encompasses film inserts from Monty Python's Flying Circus, Terry Gilliam's iconic animations, outrageous dance routines by an ensemble of twenty and a fantastic live orchestra. Featuring Stephen Hawking and Professor Brian Cox, with guest appearances by Eddie Izzard and Mike Myers, the show cements the Python's reputation as the most influential comedy group of all time and, more importantly, still one of the funniest. All the favorites, with some modern twists, are ...

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Plot Keywords:

monty python | sketch comedy | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

12

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

20 July 2014 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Monty Python Live (Mostly) One Down, Five to Go

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Special Guests in the Blackmail sketch included Stephen Fry, Lee Mack, Bill Bailey, Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas, Warwick Davis , Simon Pegg, David Walliams, Eddie Izzard, (also appearing as a celebrity 'Bruce' on the last show), Mike Myers.

Astronomy Professors Brian Cox and Stephen Hawking also had a cameo appearance, explaining the mistakes in the lyrics of Galaxy Song.

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Connections

Follows Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)

User Reviews

Just as well if this is their last go-round

I found the whole thing to be rather flat and forced. The problem, in my opinion, stems from the Pythons putting on this big, extravagant, over-long show - perhaps to justify the high ticket cost of seeing the show there in London? - with endless dancing and musical numbers, and some celebrity guest stars (on the DVD we only see Mike Meyers and Eddie Izzard on stage with the troupe; Warwick Davis and Stephen Fry, among others, also appeared during the show's run, and can be seen, briefly, in the DVD extras. Brian Cox and Stephen Hawkins appear in a funny taped segment).

The old skits performed here feel tiresome; the clips from Flying Circus are too familiar to be funny. The only genuine laughs occurred when one of the Pythons deviated from the anticipated - either purposely (a new gag scripted into an old skit) or accidentally (because someone has flubbed/forgot a line or ad-libbed an unexpected joke). The longest and best laugh of the entire show came toward the end in the combination Pet Shop/Cheese Shop skit with Michael Palin and John Cleese.

The big thing missing was irreverence, not taking themselves too seriously. Things got off to a good start with a funny piece of animation that revealed Graham Chapman's head - which then got kicked like a football (English football). Unfortunately, this was followed up by the still-unfunny-as-it-was-back-on-MPFC llama skit, with John Cleese and the Pythons addressing the audience in Spanish (not French, as in the original skit, if I recall correctly). There were far too many musical numbers, which I found myself fast-forwarding through. Hey, at least that helped cut down on this DVD's long running time!

Monty Python Live (Mostly) is the troupe taking a victory lap as establishment figures - not the take-no-prisoners comedy radicals that they once were. Besides, "Sit on my Face" seems awfully quaint in comparison to the potty-mouth kids of South Park. The end result here would've been much better if they'd allowed themselves to tweak their known skits and come up with something new and surprising, audience expectations be damned.

(On a side note, the booklet accompanying the DVD gives thanks to Tim Brooke-Taylor for allowing use of The Four Yorkshiremen skit but doesn't credit Marty Feldman as co-writer of the skit. It was originally performed on the At Last The 1948 show by Feldman, Brooke-Taylor, Cleese and Chapman).