The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
| The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Eric Idle |
| Directed by | Eric Idle |
| Starring |
Eric Idle Neil Innes Ricky Fataar John Halsey |
| Narrated by | Eric Idle |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Eric Idle Lorne Michaels |
| Running time | 56 minutes |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. |
| Release | |
| Original release | 2002 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | All You Need Is Cash |
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch is a 2002 re-telling of the 1978 mockumentary All You Need Is Cash, in a modern setting.
Plot
Twenty three years after the original, documentarist Melvin Hall (Eric Idle) interviewed mainstream artists, actors, and musicians about the days of the popular band The Rutles, which mostly consisted of ending up in the wrong country. The film ends with Melvin and the interviewees laughing.
In the interviews with David Bowie, he is seen holding a copy of the vinyl album The Rutles 1, calling it a "piece of marketing extravagance". The interview in the film shows the cover of the album with a black circle that has the words "27 No. 1 Songs On One LP". In the DVD extras, the circle on the album cover says "27 No. 1 Songs On 1 CD", even though this is a vinyl record album. Either way, this was the only time that a Rutles album was practically identical to a Beatles album in both album cover and title.
The plot remains the same as its 1978 counterpart, with a new introduction and conclusion with Idle's character, Melvin Hall.
Cast
- Eric Idle as Narrator / Dirk McQuickly / Lady Beth Mouse-Peddler
- Neil Innes as Ron Nasty
- Ricky Fataar as Stig O'Hara
- John Halsey as Barry Wom
- David Bowie as Himself - Interviewee
- Billy Connolly as Interviewee
- Carrie Fisher as Interviewee
- Jewel Kilcher as Interviewee (as Jewel)
- Steve Martin as Interviewee
- Mike Nichols as Interviewee
- Conan O'Brien as Interviewee
- Salman Rushdie as Interviewee
- Garry Shandling as Interviewee
- Robin Williams as Hans Hänkie
- April Adams as Groupie Interviewee (scenes deleted)
- Clint Black as Interviewee
- Jimmy Fallon as Reporter
- Tom Hanks as Interviewee
- Bill Murray as Bill Murray "The K" (archive footage)
- Graham Nash as Interviewee
- Kevin Nealon as Kevin Wongle
- Catherine O'Hara as Astro Glide
- Jim Piddock as Troy Nixon
- Bonnie Raitt as Interviewee
- David A. Stewart as Interviewee
- James Taylor as Interviewee
- Jann Wenner as Interviewee
Reception
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch received mainly negative reviews, with many complaining that it was simply an update for modern audiences. Idle did not ask for the participation of Fataar, Halsey or Innes for the making of the film, viewing it as a solo project.[1] It contained no new interviews with the Rutles; Rutle footage consisted of outtakes and unused film produced for the original 1978 mockumentary. Idle did new interviews with Hanks, Raitt, Shandling and Rushdie. Though he had opposed the 1996 release of The Rutles Archaeology, Idle used songs from the album in the film.
References
- ↑ Caro, Mark (2005-05-10). "Art imitates strife: Rutles launch feud". Chicago Tribune.