People have told me "you need to like British humor to enjoy it" but I've seen a lot of funny jokes in British movies... And I know many funny people from the UK.
So, PLEASE... Could anyone tell me what's funny about Monty Python?
Go watch Brazil and tell me that Gilliam isn't furious with humanity and the state of things in the world.
However, Monty Python was far from lazy, they cleverly deconstructed a repressive British culture at the time, they mocked class and authority, uptight education institutions, pointless bureaucracies, religious hypocrisy, and violent glorification of British history.
Their humor can be pretty crass by today’s standards, but if you approach their work as an absurdist, subversive satire, they’re one of the best that have ever done it.
I’ve always found their underlying message to be “don’t take things too seriously and enjoy life.”
As for what’s funny, they’re just absurd. A flying bunny that rips knights head off, an accidental messiah who just points out basic common sense which is interpreted by the masses as direct edict from God, brilliant deconstruction of bullshit bureaucracy in form of ministry of silly walks. Things like that.
But if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, that’s okay too.
That being said, the good sketches from their show are still funny and memorable today. But as with any sketch show, there's a mixture of quality. Holy Grail has its intergenerational staying power among nerds and theatre kids for a reason, even if the quoting and references to it have become pretty trite in my view.
Life of Brian is probably the best thing they've done, and is definitely one of my favorite comedies ever.