Monty Python and the Holy Grail - PG

Nonstop hilarity for families; some bawdy humor.

Rating: PG Studio: Columbia Pictures Entertainment Directed By: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Cast: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman Running Time: 91 minutes Release Date: 05/11/1975 Genre: Comedy

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Monty Python's comedy was rated PG before the advent of PG-13. The entire vestal virgin sequence is filled with sexual innuendo and proposition -- but that's the iffiest content. Some of the rapid-fire jokes won't be detected or even understood by the youngest teens, and it's possible teens unfamiliar with this style of comedy won't get it at first. The violence is obviously fake -- lots of gushing blood, killer rabbits, etc. God is depicted in an animated segment as being tired of overly contrite and "depressing" followers.

Families can talk about the way the Monty Python crew lampoons the King Arthur legend and movies. Kids: name other movies that are similarly humorous parodies of classic epic tales.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sandie Angulo Chen

Most comedies don't age well -- the jokes, gags, and even the actors all get dated. That can't be said of MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, which three decades later is every bit as hilarious.

The legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) performs their own loony version of the King Arthur legend. But don't expect swashbuckling heroes on horses. Instead, Arthur (Chapman) and his knights trot along sans horses while a subject makes galloping noises with two coconuts.

God -- animated and annoyed -- wants Arthur and his men to find the holy grail, so off they go, facing killer rabbits, randy vestal virgins, taunting Frenchmen, a bloodthirsty torso, and other silly characters on their not-so-epic quest.

It would spoil the fun to give away more of the memorable gags; they're nearly nonstop and need to be experienced, not explained. But look out for the side-splitting scenes with the Black Knight, the shrubbery bit, and the father of a rather hesitant groom.

Holy Grail is one of the all-time best comedies that families with older kids should enjoy together (for Sir Galahad's bawdy run-in with the vestal virgins, you can always aim for that "next chapter" button). And with all the quotable bits, it's just a matter of time before they're saying "Ni!" and "It's just a flesh wound."

Families who like the English comedy troupe might enjoy their other work including the original TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus and the films Monty Python's The Life of Brian or Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content A castle full of teen vestal virgins asks to be spanked and offers oral sex to Sir Galahad.
Violence Cartoonish violence -- including severed limbs and slashed throats -- and lots of fake blood. Several swordfights.
Language Relatively mild obscenities: "s--t," "bastard," "bitching," "pig dogs" and other colorful insults.
Message
	Social Behavior Humorous characters believe they're on a mission ordained by God. One character kills indiscriminately, saying "I can't help myself." Women are portrayed as either decrepit nags or virginal nymphs.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Knights of Camelot drink and dance, but nothing overt.