At the age of 85, John Cleese went on a European tour: five countries, 16 cities, 23 shows. He played to sell-out audiences of thousands of fans. Why? Because he needed the money.
So he tells us at the start of this frank documentary, which begins as an amusing portrait of a grumpy traveller who’s smarting from an expensive divorce, before morphing into a thoughtful reflection on the power of comedy. And, of course, it comes just weeks after the sad passing of Prunella Scales.
The star of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python has always had a dark sense of humour, and he makes withering jokes at the expense of his small team, who follow him on tour and patiently attend to his needs. But he’s also self-aware, more or less admitting that he’s a demanding boss. His affection appears to be reserved for his cats, and his fourth wife, Jennifer Wade, as he bids them a fond farewell and keeps in touch with regular calls.
Whatever you make of Cleese as a person, it’s an interesting doc about the realities of travelling and working in your 80s, peppered with recollections from his career. Also look out for a surprise appearance from the Dalai Lama: apparently he’s a Fawlty Towers fan.
(Hero image credit: Medium Sized Fish Productions Ltd)
John Cleese Packs It In is showing at UK cinemas from Thursday 13 November.
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