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Monty Python's Life of Brian

(1979, Rated R, Comedy, Starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sandaled Python pic too irreverent for young kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Brian becomes an unwitting martyr for a revolutionary group.

  • Violence:

    Brian's mom smacks an un-seen baby. The Sermon on the Mount turns into a fightfight. A brawl breaks out at a stoning. Dismembered body parts are strewn around the Coliseum, but they look obviously fake. An imprisoned man is kept in a torture position. Roman centurions beat several people. Criminals are forced to carry crosses. And of course, people are crucified (no blood or nails are visible).

  • Sex:

    Male and female full-frontal nudity that's shown in a humorous, not-sexy manner. Judith and Brian kiss and wake up next to each other, but the nudity comes a bit later. Another man's naked behind is shown, but his front is coverd by his long, long hair.

  • Language:

    Slightly less swearing than the usual rated-R film: "f--k," "bastard," "damn," "bloody," "titty," "balls," "d--k," etc. Also, Brian calls himself some off-color words for Jewish: "kike," "Hebe," "Red Sea Pedestrian."

  • Consumerism:

    None, except for the popularity of the Monty Python comedians.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Monty Python's Life of Brian

Parents need to know that this movie, like other Monty Python films, pokes fun at religion, death, politics, and ancient history. Although the film is not about Jesus, it does jokingly convey the life of Jesus' contemporary, a man named Brian. The Monty Python crew lampoons not just religion but also revolutionaries, committee politics, and the Roman hierarchy. There is some violence, but it's cartoonish -- even the sight of dismembered bodies in the Coliseum. And while there are scenes of full-frontal nudity (male and female), it's meant to be humorous not sexual.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the kinds of films Monty Python was lampooning. What stereotypical aspects of biblical epics does the film include? Is the film offensive or just funny, or somehow both -- why?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    october1985
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 4.0

    Unlike Holy Grail, this movie is Rated R. The f-word is used about 8 times and there are two full frontal nude scenes both male and female. There's also some comic violence but nothing too bad. If you do not have a problem with your kids viewing nudity, then this movie should be fine.

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  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    togatoga36
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great

    This movie is great, what annoys me is the fact that people think this movie is offensive to Religions. It's making fun of it, it's just putting it in the Bright Side of Life (See end of the movie). All in all, I really liked this movie

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    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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