Lisa B. from DOUGLASVILLE, GA Reviewed on 3/5/2010...
Corny but a rootin tootin good time. Love this flick from my teen years and wanted to share it with my teenagers.
Movie Reviews
Wonderful Western Satire
Jim Jr | Buffalo, NY United States | 06/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great hourse Silver, the lone (st)ranger rides again."
For anyone who can remember and quote these words and was raised watching Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, Hopalong Cassidy, The Cisco Kid and Saturday morning westerns on black and white TV, or listening on the radio, this film is a hoot and a half. I rarely laugh out load at a film at home, but I was constantly laughing at this wonderfully funny film.
What great take offs on the typical western film characters and situations! The lone cowboy in clothes no self respecting cowboy would wear. A fantastic horse names Wildfire, who danced better than Gene Kelly or Fred Astire. The music hall hostess who charged $600 a night, but only talked to her clients (Miss Kitty from "Gunsmoke" maybe?)The town drunk who wants to become the hero's sidekick. The mysterious "root" that makes anyone eating it feel soooo good.
Tom Berenger is great as the virginal, overdressed hero. He kids this stereotype magnificently. G. W. Bailey almost steals the film as the drunk/sidekick. Marilu Henner is just right as the sexy hostess. Sela Ward is perfect as the villain's daughter who has a special problem with her horse. Andy Griffith makes a delightful comic "villain". The whole cast is wonderful.
Anyone who doesn't know the old westerns might be lost and think this film not too good, but for those who remember the "cowboys" mentioned earlier, this is a comic treasure!
Be sure to watch the credits at the end of the film to hear a lovely balled, "Lasso You The Moon", sung by Gary Morris.
This film is so much better than "Blazing Saddles" (which is a very funny film) without being crude or making rude ethnic jokes that leave today's audiences uncomfortable as does "Saddles"."
Best comedy western of all time
Matthew Edmundson | Winter Haven, Florida United States | 10/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love Rustler's Rhapsody. It's easily one of Tome Berrenger's best flicks ever. While most people view Blazing Saddles as the best western comic spoof, Rustler's to me blows it away. It's not nearly as raunchy and not quite as stupid.Every time I watch this movie it leaves my stomach hurting because of all the times I'll laugh. There's a great cast to this movie. Tom Berrenger, Andy Griffith, Sela Ward, and many more people you'll recognize. That's another reason I can't beleive people haven't seen this.The story is a western spoof. The hero comes to the western town being used and abused by the evil cattle baron. The hero must stop them and overcome some of his own problems. The story also reveals why the bad guys always lose and why the good guys always win.The movie is great. I guarentee it will make you laugh and laugh hard. If you don't like spoofs then you probaly won't like Rustler's Rhapsody. If you like Blazing Saddles you will definetly love Rhapsody. This is a must own. It's one of the greatest and funniest movies nobody has ever heard of."
DVD version is incomplete
J. Wagner | 04/14/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I am so annoyed that the movie I purchased has been edited and I was not warned on the package. I wish I had seen the June 1, 2004 comments which indicated that this movie is missing a crucial scene. I cannot recommend that you buy this DVD since Paramount has released an incomplete version of the movie.
Why did they alter the movie by deleting the scene where Rex becomes a 'confident heterosexual' ? The punch line to the major joke/tension of the movie is missing in this DVD version.
I cannot recommend that you buy this DVD if you are a fan of the movie. Also, the DVD has no extras or commentary it really is a rush job on their part.
It is a terrible release of a great unknown movie. It still is funny, but not as funny as the original. Contrary to what Amazon says, I am referring to the DVD version of this movie."
Welcome to Oakwood Estates...
Paul S. Thompson | Detroit, Michigan | 01/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful movie for those who love westerns and their cliches. Every cliche that ever appeared in a western has been lovingly put into this movie (i.e. bad guys with rifles are never a match for a good guy with a pistol). Tom Berenger plays Rex, the Singing Cowboy, with superb understatement. Andy Griffith plays the daft, dastardly Colonel perfectly (my favorite Griffith role). Marilou Henner and a young Sela Ward also appear. Be aware that this is a silly movie. If someone has to explain the humor of the opening sequence to you, it may not be for you. On, Wildfire, on!"
Rustler's Rhapsody
J. Wagner | 06/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is a must for someone who wishes to show off their audio / visual system. The movie itself has a campy / fun plot. It pokes some fun at itself and the western genre. MORE importantly this film starts out with low quality sound and a black and white picture. You are supposed to see the diffence between the old inexpensively shot westerns and this one. A few minutes into the black and white flat sound version, a "bad guy" points a gun at the "good guy". The ground shakes, the camera angle widens, black and white explodes into color and the gunshot(s), which had been sounding as if they were coming from an old single speaker Philco or Emerson television, suddenly broadent and ricochet off the canyon walls in full dolby sound from front to back (if you have your surround sound set up properly). I really wish they would release this fun film on DVD so one can have the full effect (and affect) of its transformation."