Rickroller (1990)

Beginning

Rickroller opens in the early 1990s with pop icon Rick Astley performing to a sold-out arena of adoring fans. Amidst neon lights and towering video screens, Rick energizes the crowd with a high-octane performance of “Together Forever.” The concert sequence blends reality and fantasy: as he sings, the stage transforms into a surreal landscape – backing dancers flicker in and out as holograms, and instruments levitate to the beat. After the triumphant number, Rick retreats backstage, where he shares a quick moment with his choreographer and friend Roxy (played by Kylie Minogue) and his bumbling manager Nigel (Rowan Atkinson). Craving a brief escape from the commotion, Rick slips away from his minders and into the city night incognito, pulling up his collar and hat as he ventures out alone.

Middle

On the streets of London, Rick’s attempt at a low-profile walk quickly turns into a playful chase. A group of enthusiastic fans recognizes him, sparking a lighthearted pursuit through alleyways bathed in flickering neon signs. Ducking into a lively nightclub, Rick finds himself in a pulsating scene straight out of a music video.

Here the film launches into a vibrant segment set to “She Wants to Dance with Me.” Rick sheds his disguise in a twirl – his street clothes magically morph into a sleek 90s dance outfit – and he joins the club’s patrons in a gravity-defying routine. Paula Abdul, appearing as a talented club choreographer, leads a synchronized dance-off that blurs reality: walls glow with equalizer patterns and the floor lights up with each step. Cameo dancers, including hip-hop icon MC Hammer, challenge and then groove alongside Rick, each move more fantastical than the last. By the song’s end, everyone (fans, Paula, and Hammer included) is united in an exuberant dance circle. Rick slips away amidst the cheers, only to be trailed by two mysterious suited figures lurking in the shadows.

Catching his breath outside, Rick wanders down a quiet alley when a discarded arcade machine suddenly springs to life with an eerie glow. In a blink, he is pulled into a digitized world inside the machine – a Tron-like cyberspace where music and scenery intertwine. Set to the upbeat strains of “Whenever You Need Somebody,” Rick traverses this fantastical digital realm as neon musical notes float by like planets and city streets transform into galactic highways. At one point, he transforms into an animated, pixelated version of himself, racing alongside retro-futuristic cars (in a cheeky nod, one car resembles David Hasselhoff’s talking Knight Rider vehicle).

With more video-game imagery unfolding, Rick jumps between glowing 3D platform tiles that appear and disappear to the song’s beat. He even becomes a silver-suited astronaut for a moment, surfing a giant keyboard through outer space in a burst of stardust. This wild journey finally deposits Rick back into reality, as he re-materializes in a misty backstreet – exhilarated, bewildered, and now face-to-face with a lonely young boy.

The tone shifts to a heartfelt interlude as Rick befriends Tommy (played by Macaulay Culkin), a lost young fan who has been separated from his family in the bustling city. Determined to comfort the frightened child, Rick leads him through fog-lined streets that morph into a dreamlike landscape of hope and kindness. This segment, inspired by the ballad “Cry for Help,” shows Rick singing softly to Tommy under the glow of a lone streetlamp. His voice carries a comforting power: as the song builds, the once dark, empty street transforms into a warm, star-lit sanctuary. Ghostly apparitions of people in need appear around them and are gently bathed in light with each verse, symbolizing solace spreading through the night.

A gospel choir gradually materializes behind Rick (with a brief cameo by soul legend Stevie Wonder at a piano, nodding along). Their rich harmonies turn the scene into a soulful reverie. By the end of the song, Tommy and the gathered figures are smiling, their fears eased by the message of hope and solidarity. However, the tender moment is abruptly shattered when ominous laughter echoes from the darkness – the first sign that a villain has been watching.

Suddenly, dark-clad henchmen burst onto the scene through the swirling fog. Led by the sinister Mr. Grimm, they seize Tommy and scatter the magical choir. Mr. Grimm (portrayed by Tim Curry) steps into the light – a menacing figure in a sharp pinstripe suit and tinted glasses, exuding the over-the-top villainy of a comic-book crime lord. A notorious music magnate with a cruel agenda, he has been watching Rick’s every move from the shadows.

Mr. Grimm despises the joy and positivity Rick spreads through music, and like Moonwalker’s Mr. Big, he has a nefarious plan targeting the city’s youth. In a chilling monologue, he reveals his scheme: to silence wholesome pop music and replace it with a mind-controlling noise broadcast that will render children everywhere under his command. Rick’s pure songs have been unintentionally disrupting Grimm’s evil transmissions, and Tommy was kidnapped as bait to lure Rick into this trap. Refusing to abandon the boy – or “give up” on what’s right – Rick steels himself for a final showdown with the mad mogul.

End

Determined to rescue Tommy and stop Mr. Grimm, Rick infiltrates the villain’s secret lair – a dilapidated warehouse that conceals a high-tech fortress inside. The climax unfolds as a dramatic music-fueled battle, much like the Smooth Criminal showdown in Moonwalker. Sneaking through the shadows and dodging goons, Rick witnesses the bizarre arsenal Grimm has prepared: cassette tapes slither like snakes, and giant speaker stacks throb with sinister energy as part of a mind-control machine. In a tense standoff on the main floor, Mr. Grimm has Tommy bound to a chair beneath the humming device and demands that Rick surrender his voice to power the final signal. When Rick refuses, Grimm threatens harm to the boy and vows to force Rick to sing his twisted anthem of control. At that critical moment, Rick defiantly leaps onto a makeshift stage platform and declares, “I’ve got a song of my own!”

As Tommy watches wide-eyed, Rick launches into an explosive performance of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The warehouse is instantly transformed into a kaleidoscopic battleground of music and magic. Bright concert lights blaze to life, and the drab factory setting morphs into a surreal arena stage. Rick’s sheer determination manifests as power: his vocals cause electronic equipment to overload, sending showers of sparks through the lair.

A furious Mr. Grimm orders his henchmen to attack, but they are swept up by the infectious rhythm — the goons can’t help but break into dance instead of fighting, their stiff marches turning into moonwalks and spins against their will. Enraged, Mr. Grimm lunges toward Rick, but he too is repelled by the positive force of the music. In a spectacular crescendo, Rick hits a triumphant high note and undergoes a final transformation: he is enveloped in swirling light and reappears as a larger-than-life, metal-plated version of himself. This heroic figure strums an electric guitar that shoots arcs of neon energy across the room.

The musical energy waves knock Mr. Grimm backward just as the famous chorus line “Never Gonna Give You Up!” echoes like a victorious anthem. With one final blast of sound, Grimm’s dreaded machine overloads and explodes, knocking the villain off his feet. Mr. Grimm is sent flying into a pile of his own broken records and gadgets, defeated and dazed. His hold over the henchmen snaps — the goons, now free of his influence, quickly untie Tommy from the chair and awkwardly pat the boy on the back, apologetic and relieved. The evil plan has collapsed under the power of Rick’s song.

Rick returns to his normal form and rushes to Tommy, pulling the boy into a relieved hug. As dawn breaks, the warehouse’s shattered interior magically rebuilds itself into a concert stage for one last show.

Joined by Tommy, Roxy, Nigel, and all the friends and allies he’s met along the way, Rick performs an upbeat reprise of “Together Forever.” Everyone – from the once-captive kids to the former henchmen, plus cameo guests like Paula Abdul and MC Hammer – dances together in jubilant unity. Even a humbled Mr. Grimm, now utterly powerless, can’t help but tap his foot grudgingly to the beat, finally overwhelmed by the good vibes. The film concludes with Rick leading the entire ensemble in a final triumphant chorus. The camera pulls back to reveal the city skyline glowing in the morning sun as the music echoes. In a whimsical final wink, Rick Astley looks straight into the camera and flashes a warm smile as the last note hits – true to his word, he was never gonna give us up.

Cast

Rick Astley as Himselfthe hero of the film, a pop star who embarks on a surreal musical adventure to save his young friend and the spirit of music.

Tim Curry as Mr. Grimma villainous music mogul (in the vein of Moonwalkers Mr. Big) who plots to corrupt and control the worlds youth.

Kylie Minogue as RoxyRicks friend and choreographer, who appears at his concert and joins in the final victory performance.

Rowan Atkinson as NigelRicks comically frazzled manager, often one step behind the chaos.

Macaulay Culkin as Tommya young fan whom Rick befriends and protects; he is kidnapped by Mr. Grimm as part of the villain’s scheme.

Paula Abdul as Herselfcameo as a nightclub choreographer who dances with Rick during theShe Wants to Dance with Mesegment.

MC Hammer as Himselfcameo as a street dancer who engages in a friendly dance-off with Rick in the club scene.

Stevie Wonder as Himselfcameo during theCry for Helpsequence, appearing as a pianist in the magical street choir.
Edit Report
Pub: 04 Apr 2025 18:42 UTC
Edit: 04 Apr 2025 19:03 UTC
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