Rex le Magnifique

Having grown up watching the old Black and White westerns, early TV serials and a hundred Good Guys vs Bad Guy movies, this one was certainly a fantastic culmination. From first to last, one cannot help but split a rib while viewing it. Despite it featuring major star Tom Berenger as Rex O'Herlihan the real headliner should have been G.W.Bailey. Having watched him in dozens of movies where he is pretty much the heavy, this role was a surprising and refreshing change. In the hilarious film called " Rustler's Rhapsody " he not only is the narrator, he also plays the 'side-kick' Peter. Once you get into this western tale, you become privy to the change of story where "maybe all the bad guys weren't such cowards." Throughout the movie, one is treated to all the cliques of the past and some which create humor in their updated use. If you can identify with the early westerns, you are in for a real treat when you see the ending and a guest appearance by Patrick Wayne as Bob Barber. A remarkable movie in any case and one which definitely made the Classic's list. Andy Griffith and Fernando Rey also add panache to this great addition to our western lore. ****

"Rustlers' Rhapsody" is a homage to Western movies, a sort of Luke Lucky, actually a satire to the Western movies. This film shows all the clichés usually presented in this genre in a funny and laconic way. There are the characters of the bar tender, the corrupt sheriff, the drunkard, the prostitute in the saloon, the powerful farmer, the 'bad guys' and the 'good guy'. The acting and the direction are very reasonable and Hugh Wilson is the director of the hilarious "Police Academy". In the end this movie is a forgettable and funny entertainment indicated for fans of Western flicks. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Vaqueiro Cantador" ("Singer Cowboy")

I didn't really understand on why this movie was rated so low, until I realized that to really enjoy this film you needed to grow up watching horse operas on Saturdays. This means to appreciate the humor, you're probably closer to 40 than 20 or spend a lot of time watching TVLand. From what I've seen most members here are closer 20. This movie satires the Saturday matinee western where you can tell the good guys in the white hats from the bad guys. So it would be better for those of us who saw and liked westerns before the "anti-hero" westerns of the late 60's to present. Where the cowboy star has a new set of duds on for each scene, foils the bad guys and gets the girl but would rather kiss the horse. The storyline is thin because they were all pretty much the same back in the 50's. That's part of the joke. I'd forgotten about this little gem until I was looking at Tom Berenger's credits. He and the rest of the cast were really good. It may not be a great movie but its definitely worth a watch. Favorite line G.W. Bailey saying "Gee Rex, you really ARE a good guy!" 7 out of 10

Absolutely side splitting satirical look at the early singing cowboy western. Tom Berringer plays Rex O'Herlihan the singing cowboy who spoofs every western cliché in the book. Great comedy performances are made in this movie by Andy Griffith, Mary Lu Henner, Sela Ward and Fernado Rey plus a lot of great supporting actors. Also Patrick Wayne makes a guest appearance in the movie.

If you are looking for a sophisticated film that the critics all love, this probably won't be it. But if you're regular folks that enjoy the old time western, you'll bust a gut laughing at this movie. Side note, the main musical theme is performed by Rex Allen Jr. as well as the love theme by Country Artist Garry Morris.

Why would a really funny movie like Rustler's Rhapsody get passed over and over and over?

Because most times these over-the-top parodies stumble all over themselves, then fall flat. RUSTLER's RHAPSODY hangs right in there, start to finish.

It starts with a really b-list cast---Tom Berenger as the lead, G.W. Bailey as the town-drunk, Marilu Henner as the saloon girl…..but the basics of comedy, strictly applied set this Wild West Farce right there with Blazing Saddles.

Andy Griffith has NEVER BEEN funnier, as the effeminate cattle-baron, set on taking over the dusty old town.

Take, Tom Mix, add the Marx Bros, and a little something extra, and you've got Rustler's Rhapsody. A must see.