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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Play trailer Poster for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life R Released Apr 1, 1983 1h 43m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
The stages of life are told through multiple sketches and songs by the British comedy troupe. The seven parts of life cover birth, growing up, war, middle age, organ transplants, old age and death. Not all stages are singular: "Part I: The Miracle of Birth" is from the perspective of an ignored woman in labor, and of a Roman Catholic couple with too many children, and "Part VII: Death" encompasses a funeral and heaven. Added are three unrelated skits placed in the beginning, middle and end.
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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

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Critics Consensus

Monty Python's the Meaning of Life is rude, ribald, and unafraid to take comedic risks -- which is to say it should more than satisfy fans of the titular troupe.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Times (UK) While it’s the least cohesive of the Python feature films, it’s also possibly the film that is most true to the Python ethos. Mar 26, 2024 Full Review Bob Thomas Associated Press Some of the sketches are inspired... Some of the sketches are merely loud and boring the Pythons are at their unfunniest in drag. Even devout Pythonians might question some of the items. Oct 22, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Does the attack work? Only occasionally. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 19, 2018 Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) A bit uneven for Python but enough laughs to recommend Nov 23, 2024 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...probably best enjoyed as separate clips on YouTube, or with liberal use of the fast-forward button... Rated: 3/5 Oct 16, 2021 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) The Meaning of Life is one of the Monty Python's better films. But its innocence remains intact. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 30, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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I. S. W It's worth it for "Every Sperm Is Sacred", "The Galaxy Song" and the scene on Death, with the Grim Reaper. The Mr. Creosote scene is gross, but also worthwhile. Some of the scenes are dull. Sometimes it's a musical and sometimes not. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Kevin P A very experimental and bizarre third entry in the Monty Python movie trilogy that sets aside the traditional three-act structure for a series of vignettes connected by the thematic strings of life, death, and the nihilistic meaningless that brews from our experiences dealing with both. It’s a very unique experience that feels edgier and more surreal, even for Monty Python standards. The best examples being the opening sequence with the elderly business pirates, the catholic children sketch, and the galaxy song. But it can be a bit too ambitious for its own good, as some of the sketches feel too disjointed and off-putting to be enjoyable (the worst offender being the disgusting dining room sequence). It’s not my favorite Monty Python property, but the high moments are so imaginatively funny that it easily makes up for its low off-putting moments to give us a good watch and a decent sendoff for the late Graham Chaplin. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/25 Full Review Carly K This movie is very funny... and has great musical numbers in it as well... loved it.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Jim P Life Of Brian is a better movie, but for a taste of Monty Python, this hits the spot. Some very funny moments, others not so good. But a lot of it takes the mickey out of the British Class System. Bravo! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/19/24 Full Review Pat W "I've seen better." Normally I only encounter this phrase in the bedroom when it is told to me by women. But today, I'll be the one saying this phrase, and I'll be saying it in regard to this movie. What's that you say? Surely I must be lying? Okay, fine, you got me, I lied: normally when I hear the phrase "I've seen better" within the bedroom context it's told to me by a man, not a woman. I don't see why you needed to out me like that, jerk. Can we please just talk about the movie? Great. Basically, it excels at being weird but fails at being good (kind of like the movie reviews I write). With its uniquely excessive sprinkling of lunacy and absurdism but near total lack of comedic substance, "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" is like a piece of cardboard seasoned with fine exotic spices: it gives me indigestion. I would not recommend it, but at least the reason it fails isn't because it's bland. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/04/24 Full Review Oaklee D Not my favourite python film but did get a few chuckles out of me. Not my cup of tea. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - A Bucket for Monsieur The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - A Bucket for Monsieur 2:27 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Find the Fish The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Find the Fish 1:59 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Goodbye Gifts on the Battlefield The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Goodbye Gifts on the Battlefield 2:50 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Would Rather Be Elsewhere The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Would Rather Be Elsewhere 2:23 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - The Penis Song The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - The Penis Song 0:46 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - It's Christmas In Heaven The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - It's Christmas In Heaven 2:31 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - The Miracle of Birth The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - The Miracle of Birth 3:00 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Protestants and French Ticklers The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Protestants and French Ticklers 2:29 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Every Sperm Is Sacred The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Every Sperm Is Sacred 2:46 The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Mr. Creosote Blows The Meaning of Life: Official Clip - Mr. Creosote Blows 2:59 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis The stages of life are told through multiple sketches and songs by the British comedy troupe. The seven parts of life cover birth, growing up, war, middle age, organ transplants, old age and death. Not all stages are singular: "Part I: The Miracle of Birth" is from the perspective of an ignored woman in labor, and of a Roman Catholic couple with too many children, and "Part VII: Death" encompasses a funeral and heaven. Added are three unrelated skits placed in the beginning, middle and end.
Director
Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Producer
John Goldstone
Screenwriter
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround
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