Kevin and King Agamemnon are really the only two characters in Time Bandits who aren't blithering idiots.
There, we said it.
We mean, look at Napoleon, or Robin Hood, or Winston and his wife. Don't even get us started on the dwarves. A lot of the comedy stems from the foolishness of these characters—and specifically from the fact that they don't think they're being foolish. Which of course makes them even funnier.
Questions about Foolishness and Folly
- How is foolishness shown to be an extension of personality? In other words, how does the dwarves' foolishness differ from Napoleon's, or Evil's, or even Agamemnon's?
- Is the Supreme Being portrayed as foolish? Why is this important?
- In what ways does foolishness form the basis of the film's humor?
- Is anyone in the film not a fool? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
Folly is something to be avoided and overcome in this movie.
Folly is inevitable and can only be avoided by embracing it.