SNAPSHOT
A group of aliens bestow upon a random Earthling (Simon Pegg) the ability to make absolutely anything happen, to see if he uses the power for good. If he uses it for evil, the Earth will be destroyed. (synopsis via Tribute)
Monty Python have reunited in a movie!
Well not in person exactly but their voices are definitely all together in one glorious inter-galactically-situated place as a group of aliens who apparently have the ability to decide which planets stay in one piece and which do not.
Guess which list Earth falls onto yet again?
Ah-huh yep, the Destroy It and Use Its Pebbles For a Nice Long Road on Alfalonse Prime list … AGAIN.
But wait!
We can avoid this most dire, not to mention really messy, of fates if one resident of Earth, Neil Clarke (Simon Pegg) is able to show enough good character and moral fortitude while using the omnipotent powers he has been granted for the good of those around him, and not his own self-aggrandisement.
Or making his dog’s poo walk itself to the bowl (which let’s face it, while enormously handy, is not a self-sacrificial act as such).
It may sound like a thousand other generic comedies we’ve seen before – Bruce Almighty springs to mind alas – but as Nerdist points out there is a lot to be excited about with this particular riff on mortal men with great powers:
1. It stars Simon Pegg
2. It was co-written and directed by Monty Python‘s Terry Jones
3. It features all five of the remaining Pythons (Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin)
4. It’s science fiction.
5. It’s a science fiction comedy where aliens are involved, not unlike the work of Douglas Adams, who wrote for the Pythons in the show’s final season.
6. Those aliens are VOICED by the Pythons
7. It features Eddie Izzard
8. It’s about a dork with the ability to do anything he wants, like having a genie in his hand.
9. It features Robin Williams (RIP) voicing a dog
10. There’s a zombie sequence
Seriously if that list alone doesn’t get in the door at your local cinema, then I can’t think what will frankly.
Granted it also has some unpalatable reminders of the Look Who’s Talking franchise but then this particular talking dog is voiced by the late great and very much missed Robin Williams, and if nothing else, listening to him have some improv fun as a dog is going to be a joy on a whole lot of levels.
Plus Monty Python people! In a movie! With one of them directing!
It may not The Holy Grail or The Meaning of Life but it looks like it’s going to be a tremendous amount of fun with Monty Python’s brand of subversive, often downright anarchically silly comedy front and centre.
And Simon Pegg, who can do no wrong – OK I didn’t love The World’s End but that was the rare exception in an otherwise wonderful filmography – is all across the film, all but guaranteeing some loveable, innocent but knowing characterisation and deliciously sweet comedy.
The one time you really need a laugh is when you’re facing the end of the world, and that’s why you’re going to need to see Absolutely Anything and pray, inbetween laughing, that Pegg realises what he needs to do – he’s unaware this is a test to determine the future of Earth – and saves the planet before the credits roll.
Absolutely Anything will be giving you the body of your dreams and making you President of the United States come 14 August in UK and 22 October in Australia.
