A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman 2012

Graham Chapman, often remembered as ‘the dead one from Monty Python’, takes center stage in the animated portrayal of his own life story, A Liar’s Autobiography. The film chronicles his journey from being born and attending Cambridge to meeting the legendary John Cleese, embracing his identity as a doctor, and eventually, a member of the Python troupe. With a humorous twist, Graham reveals his unique perspective on his life choices, including a personal survey that hinted at his sexual orientation—70/30, according to his findings.

His narrative unfolds as he recounts moments of heavy drinking, subsequent sobriety, a dash of filmmaking, and a series of intimate encounters (which he candidly admits included quite a few). The adventure leads him to the glitzy streets of Los Angeles, where the absurd reaches new heights; in a fittingly bizarre touch, he claims he was whisked into space by aliens—though the veracity of that claim seems more fitting for a fictional account than reality.

Despite his untimely departure in 1989, Chapman left behind recordings of himself reading his autobiography, which have been cleverly woven into the fabric of this 3D animated film. Fellow Pythons, including John Cleese, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, make appearances throughout, playing both themselves and various quirky characters. With surprise cameos rounding out the cast, this film ventures beyond the typical documentary or Monty Python fare. Instead, it serves as a whimsical reflection on Chapman’s extraordinary life and his quest for self-discovery.

In a fittingly surreal manner, the film raises questions about truth and fiction, leaving viewers pondering, who knows what’s real? During his memorial service, John Cleese humorously referred to Chapman as ‘a freeloading bastard’. Now, as this film brings Chapman back together with Cleese, Jones, Palin, and Gilliam after a 23-year hiatus, he’s poised to earn the title of the most prolific corpse since Elvis, making for an unique cinematic experience that both entertains and provokes thought.