Considering the amount of talent in this film, it should have
been a classic. Unfortunately, it somehow falls short of it's
promise. Which isn't to say it isn't good, but there are many
low points as well as high ones. It is most significant for
being Graham Chapman's biggest solo venture outside of Monty
Python and, indeed, his over-the-top performance is one of the
film's treasures. The script was written by Chapman and his
frequent collaborator Bernard McKenna (who also co-wrote "The
Odd Job" and episodes of the "Doctor In the House" series with
Graham, as well as appearing in "Life of Brian") and by comedy
legend Peter Cook (best known for "Beyond the Fringe" & his team
with Dudley Moore). It also reunites Graham with old cohorts
Eric Idle and John Cleese (who, of course, are fellow Python-ites), and Marty Feldman (who did "At Last the 1948 Show"
with he & Cleese). Rounding out the cast are Cook, Mel
Brooks-films refugees Peter Boyle & Madeline Khan, Cheech &
Chong, James Mason, the "Young Ones'" Nigel Planer, and the
"Goon Show"'s Spike Milligan. What keeps the film from
greatness are the uninspired direction of Mel Damski, a dull
performance by Martin Hewitt, and the wildly divergent styles of
the different camps of comedy (Python, Mel Brooks-types, and
Cheech & Chong just don't MESH well). But, there ARE a great
many laughs to be had from
been a classic. Unfortunately, it somehow falls short of it's
promise. Which isn't to say it isn't good, but there are many
low points as well as high ones. It is most significant for
being Graham Chapman's biggest solo venture outside of Monty
Python and, indeed, his over-the-top performance is one of the
film's treasures. The script was written by Chapman and his
frequent collaborator Bernard McKenna (who also co-wrote "The
Odd Job" and episodes of the "Doctor In the House" series with
Graham, as well as appearing in "Life of Brian") and by comedy
legend Peter Cook (best known for "Beyond the Fringe" & his team
with Dudley Moore). It also reunites Graham with old cohorts
Eric Idle and John Cleese (who, of course, are fellow Python-ites), and Marty Feldman (who did "At Last the 1948 Show"
with he & Cleese). Rounding out the cast are Cook, Mel
Brooks-films refugees Peter Boyle & Madeline Khan, Cheech &
Chong, James Mason, the "Young Ones'" Nigel Planer, and the
"Goon Show"'s Spike Milligan. What keeps the film from
greatness are the uninspired direction of Mel Damski, a dull
performance by Martin Hewitt, and the wildly divergent styles of
the different camps of comedy (Python, Mel Brooks-types, and
Cheech & Chong just don't MESH well). But, there ARE a great
many laughs to be had from