Family Fun Saturday - Big Time Movie

Nickelodeon, 2012

Starring Big Time Rush (Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr, and Logan Henderson), Trevor Devall, Ciara Bravo, and Challen Cates

Directed by Savage Steve Holland

Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and others

Big Time Rush was Nickelodeon's answer to the Jonas Brothers at Disney, their boy band sitcom that would appeal to the teen girls and make their boyfriends laugh. They were inspired by The Monkees, an earlier sitcom about a fictional boy band who had wacky adventures. Although I'm not sure the band ever reached the heights of the Jonases or the Monkees, the show did run for four years on Nickelodeon and seemed to be fairly well-regarded by audiences and critics. This would be their only shot at something like a movie. Is it as much fun as the Beatles movies, or should it be left behind on the tour. Let's begin with the members of Big Time Rush as spies saving the world in member Carlos Garcia's (Pena) dreams and find out...

The Story: The members of Big Time Rush are excited to be on their first world tour, starting off in London. Their manager Gustavo (Stephan Kramer Glickman) and his assistant Kelly (Tanya Chisholm) would be happier if the boys just stayed in their hotel room and did nothing before their big show in Hyde Park. That proves to be nearly impossible when they discover a strange device in Kendall's (Schmidt) backpack. 

Turns out they accidentally switched backpacks at the airport with M16 agent Simon Lane (Christopher Shyer), who was captured by the henchmen of evil airline mogul Sir Atticus Moon (Devall). Lane's daughter Penny (Emma Lahana) recruits them to find him and retrieve the Beetle, a powerful anti-gravity device.  Meanwhile, Kendall's little sister Katie (Bravo) is obsessed with princesses, to the point of convincing their mother Mrs. Knight (Cates) to date a man who calls himself the Duke of Bath (Gerald Plunkett). When Moon kidnaps Katie, Carlos realizes his dream of becoming a Beatles-singing spy is coming true...and that dream may be the key to rescuing Katie and the Beetle from Moon's diabolical plans.

The Song and Dance: I'm not normally a fan of the teen cable sitcoms of the 2000's and 2010's, but if Big Time Rush is as much fun as this film, I might have to check it out. Everyone, including the boys, throw themselves into this delightfully absurd spoof of spy capers and British brevity. Director "Savage" Steve Holland did a series of equally wacky comedies in the 80's and is definitely in tune with the material. Even Cates and Bravo have fun with their royalty-skewering subplot, and Lahana and Shyler are a riot as the actual spies. 

The Numbers: We open with Carlos' spy dream, as Big Time Rush rescues a beautiful blonde princess to the tune of "Help!" "Can't Buy Me Love" is the first chase sequence, as Big Time Rush tries to avoid Moon's men on the streets of London, only to run into Penny Lane and her van. "We Can Work It Out" has Penny sneaking them into Hyde Park for their soundcheck in some fairly absurd costumes. The boys launch themselves into a "Revolution" as they invade Moon's mansion to rescue Katie (who is the "princess") and the Beetle device. They make a big arrival at the concert in M16 helicopters to perform "A Hard Day's Night" for the adoring teen girls in the crowd. They finish with what I presume to be their own "You Want the Party," a more generic boy band pop number. 

What I Don't Like: While you don't have to be a fan of the show to enjoy this movie, it does help to be a fan of the Beatles and/or absurd rock comedies like The Monkees TV show or the Beatles' Help! to get some of the jokes and humor. It's about as in-your-face, goofy, and obvious as you can get and isn't for someone looking for a more subtle satire. Katie's attempt to shove her mother at a guy she isn't interested in just so she can be a princess can get a little grating after a while. (It's also pretty obvious this was a low-budget TV film and wasn't filmed anywhere near London. It looks like they're in generic sets that could be anywhere for most of the movie.)

The Big Finale: Nickelodeon really should dive into the musical genre more often. All of their attempts at the genre have been delights, and this one is no exception. Highly recommended for fans of spy capers or rock satire, even if they haven't seen Big Time Rush. 

Home Media: Currently on DVD with Nick's other big 2012 musical Rags and on Paramount Plus with a subscription.

DVD - Rags/Big Time Movie

Paramount Plus

Musical Documentaries - Let It Be

United Artists, 1970

Starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr), Yoko Ono, Billy Preston, and Mal Evans

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and others

By the time they made this look into the recording of the Abbey Road and Let It Be albums, the four Beatles had splintered far beyond their disinterest in movie-making. The sessions for The White Album had featured more squabbling than anything and were largely done separately. This is their attempt to "get back" to the camaraderie they had in the early 60's. Critics at the time were harsh, judging this a dark, depressing look at a band on the verge of breaking apart. Were they right, or as Peter Jackson discovered last year when he directed the Disney Plus documentary Get Back: The Beatles Sessions, is there more to this than just four fractured friends arguing over making music? Let's begin with the four Beatles and John's girlfriend Yoko Ono recording at Twickenham Studios in London and find out...

The Story: The Beatles, joined by Yoko, their road manager Mal Evans, and musician Billy Preston record songs for their Abbey Road and Let It Be albums. Sometimes, as when John and Paul gleefully perform "The Two of Us," they enjoy being together, but it doesn't always flow smoothly. There's bobbles with the music and between each other, notably a heated argument between Paul and George over Paul criticizing George's work. It all ends with the four Beatles in what would their final live performance on the roof of the then-Apple Ltd studios in London, reminding people why they were so beloved in the first place.

The Song and Dance: This is a break-up? If this is breaking apart, I don't know what you'd call staying together. There's a few mildly tense flare-ups (including the aforementioned George-Paul spat), but most of this movie is an unmitigated delight. The sequence in the second half at Apple is especially enjoyable. The Beatles got so into their classic rock medley, I couldn't help moving along with them. Neither Ono nor Preston are nearly as intrusive as people claimed in 1970. Preston adds a lot to the second half, and other than her dance with John, Yoko doesn't really do much besides listsen. There's the concert, too. Boy, do I envy the people in the street and on the roof who got to watch that, even if it did disrupt their lunch hour. 

I have no idea what critics saw in 1970, but what I saw on Disney Plus was absolutely gorgeous. Someone did an incredible restoration on this film. The colors pop, especially in the Rooftop Concert sequence, where Ringo's scarlet jacket and the colorful clothes on the street gawkers stand out against the gray sky and black and brown buildings. It's so clear and intimate, it looks like it could have been filmed yesterday. 

Favorite Number: We open with work on "Don't Let Me Down," which would be passed over for Let It Be in the original LP, but would be included on later CD versions. Mal Evans joins in for the comic horror novelty "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," banging that infamous hammer. Frankly at this point, he and Paul are the only ones who seem really interested. Things pick up as John and Paul clown and giggle over "The Two of Us." This is also the point where Paul scolds George over his guitar playing, and George says he's just doing what he's told. Paul introduces an early form of the bluesy "Oh! Darling" that would eventually turn up on Abbey Road as the Twickenham equipment is being dismantled. We even get an adorable - and rather well-done - little ballroom dance routine between John and Yoko. 

Our first song at Apple is the rollicking "One After 909." Paul  and John originally wrote this one during their early days under the Quarryman name. This was their second attempt at recording it. Their first, aborted try was in 1963. "Dig a Pony" is John's song for his then-girlfriend Yoko Ono. Ringo and Paul improvise a lovely little jazz tune on the piano before Paul goes into one of the signature numbers from Let It Be, the ballad "Across the Universe." 

"Suzy Parker" is the only song written by all four Beatles. George finally gets in his numbers "I Me Mine" and "For You Blue." They get in a version of "You've Really Got a Hold On Me," then George helps Ringo with "Octopus' Garden." Their two classic rock medleys, especially the first of "Rip It Up" and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" are a blast, with all four Beatles and Billy Preston really getting into the swinging numbers. This leads into John's goofy improvised "Dig It" right on the spot. 

The movie ends with the famous Rooftop Concert. The Beatles perform for the delighted or shocked passers-by on the ground before the cops arrive to break up the show. Whatever their personal animosities were at this point, they proved they could still play together as well as ever with their definitive "Get Back" and "Let It Be." 

Trivia: The reception on this film was so harsh - and the Beatles had such terrible memories of making it - that Star and McCartney insisted it not be re-released in their lifetimes. Huge Beatles fan Peter Jackson finally convinced them to let him make a movie out of the unreleased footage and re-release the original movie on DVD and Blu-Ray. Thanks to the pandemic, this was altered to the three-part miniseries Get Back: The Beatles Sessions being released on Disney Plus in 2023, with the original film following a year later. 

What I Don't Like: First of all, despite the original G rating, this is not for young Beatles fans. There's a bit of swearing bandied around, including a clear f-bomb from George. Second, yes, some of the problems are more obvious than others. Things do get tense occasionally, especially early-on at Twickenham. There's also the stark look. While the restoration is certainly a lot more attractive than the grainy original was said to be, until they go outside for the Rooftop Concert, this is pretty studio-bound. It's not for those looking for something with an actual (or much happier) plot or big elaborate sets and costumes.

The Big Finale: Yes, John, you guys passed the audition with flying colors. I'm not sure I'd recommend this or Get Back for casual fans, but for those who are already into the Beatles like Peter Jackson and me, it's a worthy look at the last days of a band who rediscovered their joy before dropping away. 

Home Media: As mentioned, this and Get Back can currently be found at Disney Plus with a subscription. 

Disney Plus

Help!

United Artists, 1965

Starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr), Eleanor Bron, Leo McKern, and Victor Spinetti

Directed by Richard Lester

Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison

With Let It Be being released for the first time since the 80's this week, I thought it was time to revisit the swinging 60's world of the Fab Four. After A Hard Day's Night and its soundtrack were huge hits in 1964, United Artists increased the budget for the Beatles' next film, allowing it to be filmed in color and at locations around the world. The Beatles were growing increasingly detached from their immense fame and movie-making in general. They weren't happy that they had less input in this one, but they still went along for the ride. How nutty is this movie today? Let's begin in India as a cult is about to sacrifice one of their own and find out...

The Story: The cult can't make that sacrifice because the ring that indicates who is to be killed has gone missing. The victim sent it to Ringo Starr (Himself), who currently lives with his bandmates in their unique London flat. Ringo would love to give it to them, but it's jammed on his finger and won't come off. 

After he, sarcastic John Lennon (himself), flirty Paul McCartney (himself), and slightly spacey George Harrison (himself) are attacked by the cult, they realize they need aid in getting this off. The scientist Foot  (Spinetti) and his hapless assistant Algernon (Roy Kinnear) would rather take the ring to rule the world. Female cultist Ahme (Bron) falls for Paul and does everything she can to help the quartet as the cult chases them from Austria to the Salisbury Plain, and then to the Bahamas. They do manage to tell a Superintendent (Patrick Cargill) what's going on, but his aid is dubious at best.

The Song and Dance: In its own loony way, this movie is just as influential as Hard Day's Night. You can see the embryonic form of everything from The Monkees to Monty Python's Flying Circus to music videos of the 80's and 90's in the wild antics here. Spinetti and Kinnear have the most fun as the fairly useless not-so-mad scientists who spend the movie complaining about how much better the rest of the world's electronics are than theirs. The color cinematography is some of the most gorgeous from English movies in this era, from the crisp, brilliant red against the snow white of Austria to the tropical blues, greens, and soft golds of the Bahamas. The hilarious James Bond-esque score got a deserved Oscar nomination. 

Favorite Number: We hear the title song twice, over the opening credits as the Beatles play it on the cult's television, and over the big fight scene in the finale as the Bahamas police take on the cult and the quartet are reunited. "You're Going to Lose That Girl" makes the most of its studio setting with John filmed performing in soft, dim light as smoke curls around him. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is another John song, this one done as a deadpan ballad with Ahme banging on the tambourine at their flat. 

"Ticket to Ride" is their romp in the Austrian Alps, with the snowy blankets of white making a fabulous contrast to the boys in their black jackets. "I Need You" and "The Night Before" are their numbers on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. We get shots of the army protecting them as they play...but the cultists have their own plans. They perform "Another Girl" on the shores of the Bahamas while goofing off and dodging the cultists there. Beethoven's Symphony #9, aka Ode to Joy, is the only thing that will calm a none-too-happy tiger...and Ringo and everyone in the film is more than happy to sing it for him!

Trivia: The swimmer who pops up in the Alps and the Bahamas is the Beatles' road manager Mal Evans.

What I Don't Like: First of all, the Beatles were right that the movie focuses so much on the supporting cast, they do sometimes feel like extras in their own vehicle. None of them really have much to do besides Ringo but sing (though George does get to help save Ringo in the Bahamas). I also have to agree with them about the Indian stereotypes being horribly offensive then and now. None of the cultists look remotely Indian. This movie went in the opposite extreme from Hard Day's Night, from having no real plot to way too much! With all the bouncing from location to location, the Beatles aren't the only ones who are confused about who's chasing whom and why. 

The Big Finale: In some ways, I enjoy this one more than Hard Day's Night. I like the wacky humor, the great music, and truly unique direction. In other ways, it hasn't dated well, and the Beatles' disinterest shows in their lackluster performances. It's a must for Beatles fans like me, but those wanting to know more about the Fab Four would be advised to start with Hard Day's Night first.

Home Media: I have the 2007 restoration on DVD. It's also on Blu-Ray and streaming, the latter on Apple TV.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Apple TV

A Hard Day's Night

United Artists, 1964

Starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr), Wilfred Brambell, Norman Rossington, and John Junkin

Directed by Richard Lester

Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison

We stay in England, but jump back a few decades to honor the 60th anniversary of the Beatles making their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles' phenomenal success couldn't be contained within mere live performances. United Artists was thrilled to get them, but they weren't interested in the movie itself. They thought the soundtrack would make a lot more money. 

As it turned out, they were both gold mines. The film was shot in sixteen weeks for less than $500,000 and would make three times that. It proved to be a landmark in film musicals and continues to be influential to this day. Does it deserve that praise, or should it be mobbed by the crowd? Let's begin with the Beatles (themselves) barely evading a platoon of screaming fans at a train station and find out...

The Story: On the train to London, they're joined by Paul's grandfather John (Brambell), who, despite the guys insisting he's a "clean" old man, is constantly making trouble. He first sets their manager Norm (Rossington) and road manager Shake (Junkin) against each other, then gets into a gambling club using an invitation sent to Ringo while the Beatles sneak off to a party. A comment from Grandfather also rattles the director of the TV show they're supposed to be appearing in (Victor Spinetti). Ringo ends up being assigned to keep an eye on Grandfather, but the wily old man insists Ringo go and see life instead. This just lands Ringo and Grandfather in jail. The Beatles have to get them out quickly, just in time for their big TV performance to go on.

The Song and Dance: The quick-cut, cinema verite style still looks darn good to this day. All four of the Beatles shine in a very funny script that was deservedly nominated for Best Screenplay. John has my favorite scenes, goofing off in the bath and with comedienne fan Anna Quayle at the TV studios. George gets the single best line in the film when a reporter asks him about his haircut, along with the sequence where he's cornered by a group who thinks he's an actor and want him to be in a commercial. Ringo gets the most dramatic sequences during his afternoon on the town, including his attempt to help a lady over a hole.

The real-life filming gives us London in all it's swinging 60's glory. That's a real train station the Beatles arrive at, with real screaming fans. Ringo has drinks in a real pub, and the quartet romp in an actual playing field. It gives you a real "you are there" feeling and adds to the intimacy that makes it feel like you really are eavesdropping on these four successful and very funny rock stars. 

Favorite Number: We open with the title song and one of the most famous chords of all time as the Beatles' fans chase them across Marleybone Station. "I Should Have Known Better" is their number on the train as we see them interact with their fans. "All My Loving," "I Wanna Be Your Man," and George's "Don't Bother Me" are heard briefly at the party. 

"If I Fell" is John's number at the TV studio when they do their first rehearsal. The first version of "Can't Buy Me Love" has the quartet jumping and running around on that playing field as a crane follows their puppyish movements. "And I Love Her" and "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" bring them back to the TV studio. "Ringo's Theme (This Boy)" is a montage of Ringo wandering around London, dodging a tire rolled by a child and trying to help a lady across puddles by putting down his coat. 

"Can't Buy Me Love" pops up again as the background for half the cops in London chasing the Beatles back to the TV studio after they manage to break Ringo out of prison. The boys finally get to their smashing TV performances of "Tell Me Why" and "She Loves You," along with reprises of "Should Have Known Better" and "If I Fell." The movie ends with a reprise of the title song as they head off in a helicopter and toss Grandpa's final attempt to profit off their fame - photos with forged signatures - to their fans below. 

Trivia: Three songs, "I'll Cry Instead," "You Can't Do That," and "I Call Your Name," were cut from the final film. "Cry Instead" was used in a 1982 prologue that was supposed to honor John Lennon. It was removed during the film's restoration in 2000. 

Brambell was best known at that point as the title character of the BBC sitcom Steptoe and Son, who was often referred to as a "dirty old man." That's why they constantly call him a "clean old man" in the film. (And yes, Steptoe and Son would later be remade in the US as the even-more-successful Sanford and Son.)

Oddly, the group's name is never referred to in the film.

The film's jump cuts and cross-cutting would later inspire everything from The Monkees TV show to MTV music videos to commercials. 

The title was apparently inspired by an off-the-cuff comment of Ringo's. 

What I Don't Like: Once again, story is not the film's main concern. If you want to learn more about the real Beatles. you'd be better off looking for one of the many documentaries released on them. This movie is strictly to capture how it was during the early days of Beatlemania. Paul seems to be slightly underused compared to the other three. He mainly seems to be there to scold his grandfather. And it probably does help to be a fan of theirs to understand their personalities and why they're so popular. 

The Big Finale: Honestly, if you want to know what the Beatles were about and why they were so huge in the mid-60's, this and the film's soundtrack album are probably the best places to start. Great way to learn more about the film styles of the swinging mid-60's, too. Highly recommended, especially for Beatles and British Invasion fans. 

Home Media: Easily found on streaming and on disc, the latter from The Criterion Collection.

DVD

Blu-Ray

4K

Amazon Prime