Absolutely Anything

"I could solve every problem in the world!"

"Have you thought this thing through?"

A group of aliens (Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin), known as the galactic council come across Earth.  They want to pass judgement on the Earth and whether to destroy it or welcome it to the council.  To determine if the planet is worth saving, they give a random human, high school teacher Neil Clarke (Pegg), the ability to do anything he wants for 10 days.  If he can prove worthy, they will spare the planet... otherwise the Salubrious Gat (Idle) will obliterate Earth.

Clarke is struggling.  His students don't care, the Headmaster (Izzard) makes his job difficult, and he can't catch a break.  He loves his neighbor Catherine (Beckinsale), but doesn't try to pursue a relationship.  He accidentally discovers that he has the power to do anything and uses it for his own benefit.  He makes his boss and students nicer, his gives his dog Dennis (Williams) the ability to speak, and decides to win Catherine's affections.  He also causes a co-worker to worship his friend Ray (Bhaskar).  With the fate of the world in his hand, can Neil prove the Earth is worth saving?


This film sounds hilarious: Simon Pegg in the lead, all 5 of the surviving members of Monty Python, and a funny premise.  But it lacks something in the execution.

The film was written (with Gavin Scott) and directed by Terry Jones, in his first film in 19 years.  Jones and Scott spent almost 20 years working on the script, inspired by H.G. Wells' "The Man Who Could Work Miracles."  Jones used the opportunity to reunite with the other members of Monty Python: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin, which has not happened since 1983's The Meaning of Life (which also featured the 6th Python, Graham Chapman).  They portray the aliens, although Jones also has a brief cameo as the truck driver.

The story and characters are ok... but never reach the heights you expect.  Pegg is enjoyable and the rest of the cast is fine... although Rob Riggle's Grant is annoying.  This was Robin William's final film and was released one year after his death.  He is funny as Dennis the Dog, and the credits feature a video of Williams recording some of his lines.

It isn't a bad film, but it's forgettable.  Nothing stands in a good or bad way... and I just wish the film was as good as I expected it to be.  It is fun to hear the Monty Python actors as the aliens, and to figure out which actor voiced each alien... and that is probably the best part of the film.  Not necessarily the alien characters, but the men behind their voices.  Williams and Pegg are also funny... but the film can't rise to the level you expect from them.  Not terrible, just average (which somehow feels worse).

Absolutely Anything (2015) 85 minutes
Rating: R for language including sexual references, and brief nudity
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Simon Pegg as Neil Clarke
Kate Beckinsale as Catherine West
Sanjeev Bhaskar as Ray
Rob Riggle as Grant
Eddie Izzard as Headmaster
Joanna Lumley as Fenella
Robert Bathurst as James Cleverill
Emma Pierson as Miss Dorothy Pringle
John Cleese as Chief Alien
Terry Gilliam as Nasty Alien
Terry Jones as Scientist Alien
Eric Idle as Salubrious Gat
Michael Palin as Kindly Alien
Robin Williams as Dennis the Dog