Erik the Viking

Synopsis: Erik (Tim Robbins) is different from the other Vikings. He just can't get his head around his fellow villagers' favourite pastimes - looting, killing and raping. Feeling like an outcast, he persuades his colleagues to head to Balfrost, the rainbow bridge leading to the land of the gods so that they can see the sun again and realise there is more to life than death and destruction.

Written and directed by Monty Python alumnus, Terry Jones, Erik the Viking desperately tries to recapture the hilarious zaniness of the famous comedy troupe but fails. The opening scenes as we see how Erik lives and then follow his epic journey to Valhalla are excellent but the moment he reaches the end of the world the film loses track.

The film features a huge cast including Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Imogen Stubbs, John Cleese and Jones himself. Tim Robbins takes the lead role of Eric, not an actor you'd expect to see in this type of thing and he surely doesn't look at ease. Tim McInnerny best known as Percy from the Blackadder TV series also makes a welcome appearance as Sven, a trainee Berserk with parental issues.

Terry Jones handles the action with aplomb. His visual style is at turns gritty and fantastical. Whilst he does provide some entertaining moments, the film is more than a little reminiscent of fellow Python team member Terry Gilliam's own medieval comedy Jabberwocky. The comparisons are unavoidable, especially with John Cleese playing the film's villain Hlafdan the Black. Even the film's main trumpet fanfare recalls the soundtrack of Monty Python and The Holy Grail. The film is also produced by John Goldstone who handled the same duties on the Python movies (along with The Rocky Horror Picture Show).

The mystical world the filmmakers have created uses locations in Norway and Malta to great effect. The film also features some excellent set pieces; Erik defeating a giant dragon with his father's beloved pillow, a well-executed longboat attack and a hilarious scene when they try to arrange who sits next to who on the boat according to the presence of facial hair.

It's all good fun but seems to lack that certain something to elevate it to a true cult classic. It has all the trappings; a great cast, an epic journey, bizarre creatures and a mythical setting but it doesn't quite work, a shame because the potential was definitely there.

 

 

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