Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different - PG
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT is a collection of irreverent comedy sketches performed by British comedy troupe Monty Python. Sex and sexual identities are often major components in the sketches -- a marriage counselor hitting on a wife seeking help, a cross-dressing lumberjack, a milkman greeted at the door by a woman in a negligee. However, there is no nudity (aside from a cartoon depiction of a Venus statue) or graphic depiction of sex. Violence is repeatedly used for comic effect, and no real consequences are ever shown -- nor would they mean much in the context of a comedy sketch. Drinking of alcohol is a minor component of a few sketches, and the language is quite mild.
The humor is likely only to appeal to teens and older, and for those teens, viewing with parents can be productive. The sketches take on a plethora of topics, including gays in the military, American intervention in world politics, juvenile delinquency, and many others. Parents could discuss how these comedic sketches are often making a serious point about culture or society. For instance, why is it funny for a male lumberjack to want to dress as a woman? Or what is the piece about violent "grannies" attacking young men really commenting on?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: David Gurney
In an attempt to bring Monty Python to the U.S., the troupe, along with director Ian McNaughton, refilmed their favorite sketches from their first two seasons on the BBC. These sketches were edited together with some various new connecting bits, and the resulting film was titled AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. While it failed to attract the audience they were hoping for, the sketches are true classics, and the reinterpretations in less studio-bound settings make them all the more potent. Among the most memorable are the "Lumberjack Song," the upper class twit of the year competition, and the funniest joke in the world.
With that said, those who are already familiar with the sketches in their original form on the television series won't find anything substantially different here (ironic considering the title). This film really works best as an introduction for viewers who have had little to no prior experience with Monty Python. From here, one will likely be hooked and want to go back to the original series, unless they find the humor too absurd. But even those who dislike what they get here should keep in mind Monty Python's lasting legacy in the more recent sketch comedy troupes that have followed in their footsteps, including The Kids in the Hall and Mr. Show.
For families who enjoy Monty Python's brand of silliness, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983) are highly recommended.
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Sexual ContentNon-graphic, but features heavy petting, flashing, seduction, and veiled discussions of sex. |
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ViolenceLong-distance shootings and explosions, comic physical attacks. |
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