Just Plain Fun!!!
Despite the frivolous, not to say silly, plot, "Help!" is just plain fun; and, if one gets past the frantic antics, it is full of delightful puns and allusions (some are very British). The adorable four are supported by an A-1 cast, including Leo McKern, who puts as much zest into his role as the evil Clang as he does into that of Rumpole. Victor Spinetti (who was also in "A Hard Day's Night"), chews the scenery as the mad scientist, Foot, and he is ably assisted by Roy Kinnear as the dippy Algernon. Eleanor Bron is outstanding as the mysterious Ahme, who, decked out in an outrageous peacock blue turban and plumes informs the lads that there is more to her than meets the eye. Each one of us probably has our favorite scene; mine is one in which Ringo in the cellar is told not to worry about the Bengal tiger; all he has to do to calm the beast is sing the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; and then all the Beatles and everyone else in the pub above the cellar belt it out in German! Goofy, but so what? It's fun!

The second disk with the commentary is particularly enlightening. Not only are there the very interesting comments of the director, Richard Lester, but there is also a fascinating explanation by the technicians on the intricacies of restoring the film. Wendy Richard, who plays Miss Brahms, in "Are You Being Served?", talks about the thrill of playing her very first role in "Help!," only to discover at the last minute that the scene had been cut (They show bits and pieces of it).

"Help!" is a film to watch on a summer night when you just want to sit back, relax, and have a good laugh.

It's really simple.
It's really simple; this is my favorite movie. I've seen it dozens of times. It was unavailable for years, so my husband finally saw it (in 9 or 10? segments) on YouTube. ANYTHING is better than that.

To repeat: THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE. There are already enough reviews here to explain the "why" of it.

Another Beatles' film
I also saw this film at the theatre when I was young. I also have this in VHS and now in DVD. I'm happy with my purchase of this dvd. It's like watching a long music video but better. Funny as the first movie they made. I also recommend this film to Beatles' fans as it has a lot of action and comedy. Even folks who don't know the Beatles' that well can't help but like this one.

A fan
Wots to review? Its the BEATLES!! I'm a long time fan. VHS too worn out.

Help! vs. A Hard Day's Night
I am probably committing heresy here but I've recently watched both A Hard Day's Night and Help! in high-def and I have to give Help! the edge, in spite of its far-fetched plot involving a magic ring. Let's face it, both of these movies have their plot defects, but Help! comes through somehow fresher.(I would have felt differently 30 years ago).

One thing that I found evident was just how much the television show, The Monkees, that I grew up with was a blatant (but well-done) rip-off of Help! When I was a kid, growing up in the 70's, the Beatles were yesterday's news, but the Monkees' show was on every afternoon, and as Michael Stipe has often said, was perhaps a bigger influence on that generation than the disbanded Beatles, whom I would discover through listening to Wings, about the time that Wings began to falter.

Anyway, watching Help! is a bit like watching an extended Monkees episode(Yes, they all had ridiculous plots just like Help!) and for the MTV generation who came prior to The Real World, this will feel comforting because Help! is basically full of music videos.

The newly-released print looks sensational. I am not sure if I have ever seen a color movie from that era that looks as good as the new Help! DVD and the movie seems a lot better than it did the first time that I saw it back in the mid to late 1970's. The boys look great and were at the height of their musical prowess and their beauty as men. They would never again look this great together and appear to be such great friends, just having a sensational time as mates.

Every Beatles' fan should buy this.