While never seeing seeing the Beatles in person, I did see this film when it was first released and found it delightful and still do to this day. The group may not be the greatest thespians ever to perform, but they do remarkably well in their second outing. Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti and Roy Kinnear are also quite good. Richard Lester directs the proceedings with an able hand.
As with their first film, there a number of user reviews that find the Beatles second feature lacking. One complains that "some stupid Indian death cult (which, oddly, is made up of folks who don't look the least bit Indian--such as Leo McKern) insists on killing Ringo," while another writes that Ringo is trying to escape from an "Arab cultist." It cannot be both. Another reviewer sums up by writing "Overall, I'd say that if you were alive when The Beatles were a band, then you'll be more likely to enjoy this. If you are younger, then you're likely to think your parents were nuts for enjoying this sort of goof-ball movie!" Martin Scorcese said it best in the booklet which accompanies the 2007 DVD release of the film: "now it's time for you to do your part: watch and enjoy! You were let in on the joke, and that made even funnier." "Help!" holds an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
As with their first film, there a number of user reviews that find the Beatles second feature lacking. One complains that "some stupid Indian death cult (which, oddly, is made up of folks who don't look the least bit Indian--such as Leo McKern) insists on killing Ringo," while another writes that Ringo is trying to escape from an "Arab cultist." It cannot be both. Another reviewer sums up by writing "Overall, I'd say that if you were alive when The Beatles were a band, then you'll be more likely to enjoy this. If you are younger, then you're likely to think your parents were nuts for enjoying this sort of goof-ball movie!" Martin Scorcese said it best in the booklet which accompanies the 2007 DVD release of the film: "now it's time for you to do your part: watch and enjoy! You were let in on the joke, and that made even funnier." "Help!" holds an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.