Book Review: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle (2018)
Synopsis: Actor and comedian rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s as part of the Monty Python comedy troupe. In this "sortabiography," he discusses that rise to fame and the impact it had both on his career and his personal life.
Review: I know I'm not as big of a Monty Python fan as other people are. However, I have watched my share and did, at minimum, enjoy the movies Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian. Plus, I'm familiar with Eric Idle from some of his other work, such as his hilarious cameo appearance in National Lampoon's European Vacation. So, when I had an opportunity to read Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, I did. Overall, I thought it was a good decision.
Idle brings a good mix of comedy and seriousness to this book. The former both makes reading the book easier and also softens some of the sadder/darker stories, especially when he discusses the tragic way some of his fellow Monty Python actors saw their lives end. At the same time, the latter gives the book some credibility. Idle clearly understood he didn't need to make jokes all the time, just when they worked.
I also liked how he focused on more of the personal life aspects of his career rather than just focus on Monty Python's greatest hits. There has already been plenty written about the latter and while he did add some details from his point of view, the decision to keep those parts brief helped make the book seem much more unique.
One thing that surprised me was how Idle wasn't afraid to share even some of the most personal details. Normally, for example, I would expect a writer to gloss over something like a divorce. Idle was upfront and honest about what led to his divorce, especially the role he played. He also didn't shy away from talking about various professional disputes he had or the personal demons some of his Monty Python family faced. In other words, while not necessarily self-deprecating, Idle portrayed himself and those around him as human. That's something too few autobiographies do.
Final Opinion: It's an entertaining book that both educated me and helped me gain a whole new appreciation for Monty Python and the comedians who were part of that troupe. I recommend taking the time to read it.
My Grade: A
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