Since this is probably old news to most, I'll make the introduction brief. The Rutles were a parody band and it's quite easy to guess which band they've dedicated their efforts to. As it sometimes happens with great things, the whole thing started as a joke, a sketch for BBC, but it evolved quickly into something significantly bigger. They made music, films, they toured, the whole nine yards.
Last night I've watched their film "The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash" and, check this out: it was good. Well, Monty Python's Eric Idle was involved neck deep in it, he basically started the whole thing along with Neil Innes, so chances were looking bright from the start. The film charts the Rutlemania by distorting and stretching the Beatlemania to hilarious degrees. I mean, the Beatlemania was funny in itself, the Fab Four were funny lads, but you should definitely check out the Prefab Four, buahaha. Mick Jagger talks about The Rutles and the rivalry between them and the Rolling Stones. I mean, that's just hysterical by itself. Other appearances include Bill Murray, Bianca Jagger, Paul Simon, Michael Palin, Dan Aykroyd, Ron Wood and....one George Harrison. Harrison supported the entire charade from the beginning, isn't that something? John and Yoko adored it (and you should see Yoko - Chastity!!! - in this film), Ringo apparently only liked the happier parts, while Paul did't find it all that amusing until his wife said she liked and he changed his mind. Really, Paul?
Two more things I need to mention.
One: The amount of work put in this film must have been enormous. They have recreated, well...everything. From haircuts, to costumes, to sets, archive footage, the roof top scene, tv shows aaaand even a scene from Yellow Submarine, so that must have meant a fair amount of hours of animation. Like, wow.
Second: Dude, the songs! The songs are amazing. It's Beatles all over again, great stuff. They're not just Weird Al type parodies, but actual great songs in their own rights. And they have videos for them and everything. Again, wow.
Now I'm trying to download their second movie "Can't Buy My Lunch", but it's not looking good. Hahahaha, I just realized, as I was writing the last sentence, that I am listening to a song called "It's looking good".
Well, the story is out there, go dig.
As, probably, Eric Idle puts it at the beginning of "Protest Song", "I've suffered for my music and now it's your turn". Here's "Ouch!"
And the video.
P.S. Watched "Can't Buy Me Lunch" just now. Appearances by David Bowie, Robin Williams, Conan O'Brian, Mike Nichols, Garry Shandling, Billy Connolly, Carrie Fisher, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin and, buaha, Salman Rushdie. Other than that, the film is pretty much the same as the first one.
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