If you were looking for a list of the most influential comedy filmmakers of all time, it would absolutely not be complete without Terry Gilliam. Although Gilliam’s best-known work is his tenure with Monty Python, his 1980s family adventure Time Bandits has grown quite a cult following. 

Now, three of the hottest voices in comedy today — Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows), and Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners) — have created a new series based on the movie. It’s as enjoyable as one could hope, paying homage to the original while also standing on its own. 

Time Bandits is a fun reimagining that stands on its own

Like the original movie, Time Bandits follows a young, history-loving kid who finds himself swept away on a wild adventure when a group of time-traveling bandits appear in his wardrobe. Although the story itself is a little thin, it provides a perfect set-up for comedic hijinks that viewers, young and old alike, will enjoy.

Waititi, Clement, and Morris have really nailed the balance between absurdity, excitement, and heart that a great family adventure needs. In this way, the show is reminiscent not only of the original film but also of the Amblin-esque adventures that entire generations of kids grew up on as their childhood favorite movies.

One of the most refreshing things about this Time Bandits show is that it does not feel like a straight remake of the original but a respectful successor. The creators take the opportunity allowed by a 10-episode run to take the Bandits to different and more time periods than we saw the characters of the original movie visit. Of course, there are some expected ones, like Medieval times, but the more fun episodes are those in which the characters visit periods that aren’t typical fodder for time travel stories, such as Mayan civilization and Prohibition-era Harlem. 

The sets and costumes of Time Bandits do an incredible job of transporting audiences back in time to these diverse eras along with the characters. It looks much better than it has any right to. Given that this is being marketed as a “kid’s show,” you could almost even forgive it if it didn’t have this level of period detail, but the crew fully committed to the feeling of immersion.

This series version of Time Bandits also manages to stand on its own thanks to a cast that is entirely game. Young actor Kal-El Tuck gets his first major starring role here as the lovably nerdy Kevin, and he has so much charisma. His screen presence is impressive, especially considering he is sharing the screen with some of the best comedic actors working today.

The Bandits themselves are dominated by (sort-of) leader Lisa Kudrow, who is as funny as you could possibly hope in her role. This isn’t the type of comedy performance that’s super punchy — it’s of a more whimsical variety, where the humor originates from the unabashed authenticity with which she delivers every line. The rest of the ensemble gets their moments to shine, but Kudrow very much steals the show.

On the other end of the spectrum are co-creators Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, who give hilariously ridiculous performances in supporting roles. The duo captures the manic, improvisational energy they became known for in their early careers, and every scene they are in is an absolute joy to watch.

Is Time Bandits worth watching?

Time Bandits will satisfy both adults who are nostalgic for the original film and kids looking for a fun adventure comedy. It’s rare that a show manages to nail both of these so effectively, but leave it to a reimagining of a cult favorite by one of comedy’s legends to deliver.

Time Bandits streams on Apple TV+ beginning July 24 with two episodes weekly. All ten episodes reviewed.

8/10

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