Paul Kaye introduced it as a film you need to see before you die. I’m not sure that’s entirely necessary, as there are many better films out there. However, there aren’t many better films with Monty Python involvement, and midgets. Sorry, dwarves. What is the politically correct term? Very small people? Persons of unusually short stature?
Although it was written by two Pythons, and stars some of them, overt silliness is kept to a minimum. The story is all over the place, yes, and Palin and Cleese’s characters are somewhat more silly than the rest, but it isn’t totally nonsensical like other Python films.
A boy get caught up with a group of, er, substantially-nearer-the-floor criminals, who have stolen a map of the universe that shows holes in history. So they set out to rob rich people from the past blind. Of course, the lord of all evil (who isn’t supposed to be Satan at all) wants the map himself to get back at The Guy Who Isn’t God, No, Honestly.
The film is essentially a lot of funny set pieces, and although the kid’s voice is more irritating than I’d like, it’s certainly worth seeing.
Verdict: 4/5
