It's a strong start as a stand-in for the late, awful Henry Kissinger is treated appropriately. As the next scene greets us with a silly characterization and cheeky wordplay things continue to look up, though it seems to me that the bit is too drawn out. Some splendid silliness and wit in the third scene to greet us butts up in part against tiresome stereotypes and casual racism. With the fourth scene things start to gel and improve as the plot picks up and our contemporary Holmes is introduced, providing an anchor for the proceedings, while various ridiculous odds and ends continue to provide delightful embellished flavor. As the tale develops of a new game afoot between Holmes and Moriarty, with implications for the world at large, we're given a steady stream of gags, situational humor, exaggerated characters and acting, parody and absurdism in all aspects of the writing, and some good old physical comedy on top. And generally speaking, there's cleverness aplenty in a farce that would quite be fit for contemporary troupes like Monty Python (regardless of whether or not John Cleese was involved as both co-writer and star).
Mind you, the case for 'The strange case of the end of civilization as we know it' would be stronger if it didn't take a little over one-third of the abbreviated length of only fifty-five minutes to earn its first hearty laugh. With that said, happily the humor actually does become more robust and worthwhile from that point onward, if still less than completely. All the while the very least that can be said is that the cast is terrific as they fully embrace the ludicrousness, and the high energy that every actor brings to each moment in turn is without question one of the top highlights and most consistent qualities of the picture. Likewise, this is splendidly well made in most every capacity, including swell stunts and effects, fine direction and editing, and excellent production design, art direction, costume design, and hair and makeup. And maybe most important of all - while the result is regrettably uneven, at its best the comedy writing is altogether brilliant. Between Cleese, director Joseph McGrath, and co-writer Jack Hobbs, there are some bits here that are just as terrifically funny as anything else the contributors have given us, and the strength of the back end handily compensates for that early stretch when the flick was struggling to find its feet.
All told I do really like this, and I'm glad to offer it as a recommendation for anyone who appreciates British comedies. I just rather wish that the same vitality, zest, and ingenuity that characterizes the back two-thirds, and the last approximate third especially, had been applied more regularly. If the first twenty minutes were as sharp as the remainder, I'd have no detractions to make at all. Be that as it may, 'The strange case of the end of civilization as we know it' is still a blast overall, if an imperfect one, and far more than not it certainly provides the mirthful diversion we hope for. Unless you're a huge fan of someone involved I don't think there's any need to go out of your way for it, but at less than an hour this is well worth checking out if you do have the opportunity; just give it a chance to warm up first.
