This often neglected first solo directing effort of Gilliam's is certainly much better than its maligned reputation would have you believe. While it is though sledding the first time through, it gains appreciably with repeated viewings, but does demand you pay attention. Amongst all the excrement, garbage and filth, Gilliam and his co-writer actually have a little something to say about big business, but mainly JABBERWOCKY is very, very funny. Strong stomachs are required, however.

JABBERWOCKY feels very much like a follow-up to MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, featuring as it does an identical medieval setting, similar fantastic elements in the story, a grubby look, and many of the assembled Monty Python cast (although Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and John Cleese are notable by their absence). This one's a very loose adaptation of the Lewis Carroll poem, with Michael Palin playing a youthful idiot who must battle a legendary monster. Truth be told, this is rather a scattershot affair that never manages to be particularly funny, or at least as funny as it should be. However, it does have an excellent supporting cast of numerous faces familiar from British comedy (Bernard Bresslaw, Warren Mitchell and John Le Mesurier to name but three), so at least that's something.