While both the TV series "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and comedian John Cleese are great: this DVD is worthless. First of all, while the other Pythons in the "Personal Best" DVD series at least have a nice and extensive compilation of their favorite sketches to show, Cleese's selection is rather short. Most of the material has been re-edited, shortened or only appears for a brief moment of screen time. We know that Cleese never felt most of his Python TV stuff was that good and that he was glad he could re-edit a few things for this DVD. But if he wasn't able to select more than this tiny handful of chopped up material: how does this DVD still manage to be longer than half an hour? Simple: Cleese added a painfully unfunny subplot where he pretends to be an 90-year old washed up unsympathetic version of himself. He is interviewed by an American film crew about his favorite sketches and from time to time he shows a clip. Everyone around Cleese, from the crew to his personal servants, pretends that they hate him and Cleese himself also bullies them around. The joke gets old very quick and the other "actors" are simply not that funny. Everything is filmed in a huge mansion next to a swimming pool in what is supposed to be Cleese' house in Hollywood. Unfortunately this only adds to the impression that Cleese quickly filmed some cheap filler material for this DVD without bothering to come out of his chair.
So in a nutshell: this DVD shows short snippets of original Python sketches and some new, unmemorable material that hardly does Cleese, nor the Pythons any justice. You can better enjoy the classic sketches in their original, full length glory on the complete DVD box of the original "Monty Python's Flying Circus" series.
So in a nutshell: this DVD shows short snippets of original Python sketches and some new, unmemorable material that hardly does Cleese, nor the Pythons any justice. You can better enjoy the classic sketches in their original, full length glory on the complete DVD box of the original "Monty Python's Flying Circus" series.
