Okay, one day I was walking around my local library's movie selection, (hey, don't knock it until you've tried it, I find it better than Blockbuster and it's free) and I saw this little title. Being a fan of Monty Python, and John Cleese being my favorite of the group, I felt compelled to watch this. But, I didn't check it out that day. But I did later, so I am actually able to review this. Sorry for the bad anecdote, but moving right along...

"How to Irritate People" was made for TV in 1968, one year before "Monty Python's Flying Circus" was created. It features Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, and of course John Cleese, all future major members of Monty Python. Also in it is Connie Booth, who was also in Monty Python and who later married Cleese. The show is made up of Cleese hosting a mock documentary with various skits showing the various ways to irritate people. Not on the list however was hosting an unfunny mock documentary with various skits showing the various ways to irritate people, but I guess that's some ironic humor for you right there.

The first skit has Cleese as a bothersome father who, along with his wife, keeps irritating their son and daughter-in-law who are trying to watch television. The whole thing just seemed to drag on and on and was definitely not the best way to start off.

Next, we have some old pesky ladies who are bothering Palin in a movie theater. While there is one sort of funny line that the ladies say: "Oooh! Ahh! Well I never! *smack smack smack.*" However, it was only funny the first time and not the umpteen other times it was repeated.

Then there's a sketch where Cleese keeps checking up on her date until he drives her away. Then we are treated to a skit consisting of Michael Palin acting as an Indian restaurant manager who wants his customers' praise. Overall, the whole thing is just unfunny and offensive to Indians.

The next sketch is the first one that actually gave me more than one laugh. In it, Chapman brings his car to a dealership to get his car fixed or something like that. Palin, the salesman, is trying to avoid him. And then.... er, hilarity ensues. To an extent.

Next is a quick skit involving an actor (Chapman) indirectly asking another actor (Palin) for praise. It's not too funny really, but Chapman's character cracked me up. Then there's an old lady on a quiz show, again, not too funny. After that we have Chapman indirectly asking his friend, Palin, for a lift. Yet again, not much humor to be found here. The next sketch (there's not too many more, folks, I promise) has Cleese as a son visiting home, where his mother is making sure he has no enjoyment whatsoever. This ending to this one has a hilariously bad and corny ending line, along with an all too familiar lack of funny.

But, the next sketch actually ends this streak of bad ones. Two bored airline pilots have some fun with their passengers by causing them to panic for no reason. Laughs throughout, except for the end, which I thought was sort of crappy.

Then we have yet another funny sketch! Two in a row, I know, its surprising. This one was actually later used in a Monty Python episode, too. Cleese plays a job interviewer who is just trying to irritate the applicant. Here's a short sample.

Interviewer: Good morning.
Applicant: Good morning.
Interviewer: (writes) Tell me why did you say 'good morning' when you know perfectly well that it's afternoon?
Applicant: Well, well, you said 'good morning'. Ha, ha.
Interviewer: (shakes head) Good afternoon.
Applicant: Ah, good afternoon.
Interviewer: Oh dear. (writes again) Good evening.
Applicant: ... Goodbye?
Interviewer: Ha, ha. No.

The next skit returns us back to our pattern of suckiness. In it, Palin is entertaining his boss at home or something along those lines. His wife, Booth, tells him to tell a joke he likes, but he doesn't want to. Well, in the end, he is forced to and ends up being humiliated. Because of this, he beats his wife in the kitchen. Now call me weird, but I just don't happen to find wife beating humorous. I've gotten enough slack for this already, so please don't send any angry e-mails my way about it.

Anyway, next we have Cleese hosting a bad talk show where he's just trying to kill time. Well... that's about it for that one. Finally, we have a political/news talk show, where Cleese repeatedly asks Chapman the same question, much to his dislike. And this brings an end to the skits. I forgot to mention before, but between each skit, Cleese has a short part where he acts as the host again. But none of these are quite funny either, with maybe a few exceptions.

Overall, I would not recommend "How to Irritate People" for anyone except perhaps a diehard Python fan who wants to see their "roots." For everyone else, just stick to the actual Python titles or whatever suits your fancy.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: VHS