5.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 16/06/2007

The moment you start watching "Monty Python's Meaning of Life", and you see the unexpected movie within the movie "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", in which an office building turns into a pirate ship, you know you're in for one hell of a surreal ride. "Meaning of Life" is the Pythons at the zenith of their lunacy, filled with shocking moments of violence, offensive behavior, repulsive bodily functions, and all sorts of jaw-dropping bric a brac. Whether or not the movie truly intends to make us ponder the meaning of life or not is debatable, but you have a great time watching it. With an aquarium full of fish as a sort of Greek chorus, we explore the 3 stages of life: birth, growth, and death. The faint of heart better beware: "Meaning of Life" has scenes that would, even today, barely fly in the land of the Puritans. Michael Palin, as a dirt-poor father of 100 children, leads an epic musical number against birth control. Eric Idle, while singing about the vastness of the universe, witnesses a constellation take form of a naked woman giving birth. John Cleese plays a headmaster who teaches sex ed by having intercourse with his wife in front of his class (it's easily the least erotic sex scene in cinema history). And, in "Meaning of Life"'s most famous scene, the revolting, gluttonous Mr. Creosote (Terry Jones) literally eats until he explodes. The film lampoons several touchy topics: Catholic dogma, basic human stupidity and selfishness, the foolishness of war (in a brilliant parody of "Zulu", with Michael Caine in a brief cameo), and even death itself (one man is able to choose his death, in which he is chased off a cliff by a mob of topless women). Yet it's not entirely gratuitous. In fact, the Pythons make several good points: birth control shouldn't be denied to anyone, especially those too poor to have children. Gluttony is wrong, and will in time punish you itself. We only live once, so we better enjoy the ride. It's no-holds-barred madness, and it's Monty Python at their best. "Meaning of Life" doesn't have the same cult following as "Holy Grail", but it's certainly one of their best. If you can't handle gore, sex, vomiting, or lunacy, steer clear. Otherwise, enjoy!

4.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 23/04/2007

Argued as being their best Monty Python's The Meaning of Life has the same kind of layout as And Now For Something Completely Different; with layers of skits. However, this time round they all serve to tell the story of life, from birth through to death. With catchy songs and the humour that's made Monty Python who they are, The Meaning of Life is a great movie to own.

5.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 13/04/2007

The comedy groups last full length movie returns to the feel of the hugely popular BBC TV show. It features small comedy sketches dealing with all of the stages and trials of life. Expect the un-expected. Plenty of religious, vulgar, and sexual humor may offend some groups. There are even musical numbers, but with that same unmistakable brand of Python humor.

5.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 03/03/2007

This is a great movie, explained alright by the previous reviewer, its so stupid its helarious, jkust like most other monty pythons, its most similar to the show "and now for something completely different" as its has no plot really, just skits about "life" for the wqant of a better word, or 2 lol

5.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 30/08/2006

This is such a bad movie, its basicly monty python skits strewn together with a comentary by some fish that are in a restaurant whilst they contemplate the meaning of life, so if your a monty python fan and love their stupid skits and stupid movies like i do youl enjoy this form end to end, stupid stupid stuff

2.0 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. – Customer review on 13/07/2007

I find the Meaning of Life so boring that I have not even been able to watch this movie without finding something better to do with my time. These movies seem tired, dated and irrelevant to our contemporary lives. Judging by the reviews on here I must be in a minority group who can not stand this pack of larrikins. They are so dull that I just could not be bothered to write a new review for each of them!