Absolutely Anything

In the 32 years since their last film together, Monty Python went separate ways to act, direct, host documentaries, write, compose, and die (in Graham Chapman's case). This year, Terry Jones reunites his fellow surviving members with other talent for his film Absolutely Anything.

The film finds a group of superior aliens (Cleese, Palin, Jones, Gilliam, Idle) who bestow the power to do 'absolutely anything' on average teacher Neil (Simon Pegg) to test the human race's viability. After 20 years development, Jones has made a charmingly flawed film. What works is the comedy, giving the used concept (see Bruce Almighty) a surreal, goofy touch that is outrageous fun, from the dead rising, silly policemen, to a semi-rational thinking/speaking dog. What doesn't work is the rest, with undeveloped story and characters. A shame since it could've been a new Groundhog Day.

The cast is full of welcome faces, such as Joanna Lumley, Eddie Izzard and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Pegg is likeable and does his best, while Kate Beckinsale lets her hair do the acting. In voice, the Pythons are brief yet funny, and best of all is Robin Williams' final, hilarious performance as Dennis the Dog, voiced with his trademark enthusiasm and proving a nice coda for an irreplaceable icon. While not great, Absolutely Anything is definitely entertaining with solid comedy and talent.