A TV reporter (Eric Idle) presents an overview of the Rutles. It's a parody of the Beatles. Dirk McQuickly (Eric Idle) is a parody of Paul McCartney. Ron Nasty (Neil Innes) is a parody of John Lennon. It has a few real life stars like Mick Jagger and Paul Simon playing themselves. It has some 'real' people and uses old footage. It's the history of the Beatles at a different bent.Unlike Spinal Tap which came 6 years later, the band members are not too outrageous. They are the Beatles slightly off-kilter. Maybe they are not crazy enough for the American audience. Eric Idle and Neil Innes have been producing the TV parody band in the 70's. There is lots of SNL involvement. This is great for Beatles fans, Monty Python fans, and early SNL fans.

Oh I love this film. It is very very silly indeed, with plays on words that no longer seem original, but somehow it just doesn't matter. I love Eric Idle. His take on Paul McCartney is gorgeous and he is also wonderful as Stanley J Krammerhead the third, and the presenter himself. Wonderful comedy performances like Gwen Taylor's mother of Leggy Mountbatten, and Jerome Greene's Blind Lemon Pye arguing with his wife - wonderful! I love the songs, which almost seem not like pastiches at all sometimes, and rather wonderful in their own right. Am I dead - or alive? Will my poor heart - survive? I just love it. Wonderful wonderful wonderful! (yes that word again). The perfect cheer-you-up film. And my, wasn't Mick Jagger beautiful once.

When I first saw this about 25 years ago, I had only recently discovered Monty Python and was captivated by the mature, wry humor prevalent in their work.The Rutles, a mockumentary which takes a rather satiric look at the phenomenon known as the Beatles, is an excellent vehicle for Eric Idle with a stellar supporting cast from some of his Monty Python pals as well as cameos from the likes of John Belushi and Gilda Radner. These two cameos alone make it worth the price of admission.It is obvious that the Beatles are the object of Idle's scorn but it is by far one of the funniest parodies to come along in a long time. I was thrilled to see it has been released on DVD and if you are a fan of wry, British, humor coming from the likes of Idle, you are definitely in for a treat! A must have!!

This hilarious parody of the Beatles goes all out, portraying songs such as "Can't Buy Me Lunch" and "Tragical History Tour". It's the sort of thing that could only come from Monty Python (with a little help from the "Saturday Night Live" folks). I can imagine - apologies to John Lennon - that they had fun making this; it probably gave Rob Reiner some ideas for "This Is Spinal Tap".Anyway, "The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash" is not to be missed. You'll never stop laughing. Starring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, George Harrison, Ron Wood, Mick Jagger, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner.