Der Sinn des Lebens

Narratively fragmented, with weaker moments interspersed with absolutely brilliant ones. But the brilliant ones prevail, as usual with Monty Python. The vomiting scene is absolutely unforgettable, you just don't see something so perversely funny every day. (11.05.2003)

Und nachdem die Zirkusleute uns einen Einblick in die Anfänge der modernen Zivilisation und ihre harten ritterlichen Anfänge gegeben hatten, mussten sie erklären, warum wir hier sind. Kurzgeschichten aus verschiedenen Phasen des menschlichen Lebens, schön zerhackt und scharf gewürzt. Zweifellos das abartigste Werk von Monty Python. Einige der Szenen sind etwas schwächer, aber andere haben sich so sehr ins Gedächtnis eingebrannt, dass sie selbst mit Savo und Verdünnung nicht mehr zu entfernen sind. Bring mir einen Eimer, ich muss kotzen. Bravo, dreimal Bravo! (26.01.2004)

Although this is their weakest feature film, Monty Python are still kings of absurd and bizarre humour. It's just a shame about the patchiness. (31.01.2007)

The most daring, brutal, bloodiest, and above all, ultra-sexual film endeavor of this unforgettable party. However, out of the golden trio, undoubtedly the weakest. While Life of Brian and Holy Grail are consistently brilliant, Meaning of Life is only occasionally so, and, for example, the scene with repeated vomiting felt awkward to me. But can anyone else come up with something as amazing as a graphic sex education, gratitude in the trenches, or snippets from the Zulu War? (15.02.2007)

Before Life of Brian, the Monty Python crew had a lot of plans and little money - after it, they had a lot of money and few shared plans. The group members went their separate ways and worked on their respective projects, while producers competed to finance their next joint film. The group gathered in Jamaica and tried to put together a new script, but it was very difficult because the ideas for the project were very different. John Cleese initially did not cooperate on the project at all. The group originally came up with the idea of Monty Python's Third World War as a parody of the commercialization of warfare, or the idea of a court trial where the group would be accused of the entire project of the new film being a grand tax fraud. All these ideas were lost and the film is actually a loose combination of a series of separate scenes lacking a solid story. As a result, the film is very fragmented and uneven. It contains excellent sketches and jokes alongside weaker moments where the point was simply lost. The Monty Python group away a considerable amount of material when working on the script and engaged in heated debates over the final form of the film. Terry Gilliam was the most criticized for his film The Crimson Permanent Assurance, which seemed too megalomaniacal and unnecessarily expensive to the other group members, simply not fitting into the overall concept of the film. The reception of The Meaning of Life both by critics and audiences was not very enthusiastic (everyone was simply satiated after Life of Brian), and the group members themselves felt dissatisfied. The Meaning of Life effectively meant the end of their collaboration, and all the members decided to go down their separate artistic paths. Most of them were successful, except for Graham Chapman who, in the few years he had left, didn't have time to do much. Overall impression: 80%. (21.01.2008)

The latest over-budget-for-the-tenth-time Python this time bathes the bourgeoisie and the authorities in their own vomit more thoroughly and brutally than ever before. Eat healthy, go for walks, read something nice once in a while... And now the penises. (19.04.2010)

When I first saw "The Meaning of Life," I just didn't understand it, I didn't get it, so it didn't seem funny to me either. True, I still enjoyed the flashing scene and it's actually the only one I remember. Along with the character of death, which somehow constantly fascinates me. Today, I understand that movie more, it seems funnier to me because I've grown fond of absurd drama, unfortunately, I will never love Monty Python as much as to adore them unconditionally. Those scenes have ideas, I just can't talk about an absolutely brilliant film. (02.01.2014)