Line #49 Film/TheCompleatAl


1	[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thecompleatal_4.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:265:"''Who does he think he is?''"]]
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4	''The Compleat Al'' is a 1985 {{mockumentary}} about the life of Music/WeirdAlYankovic. It was partially written by Yankovic and directed by Jay Levey. It stars Al Yankovic AsHimself, Kevin Seymour as Al's agent Barry Cohen, and Bill Martin as the narrator.
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6	The film originated because CBS Home Video asked Yankovic to make a long form music video. Al and his team expanded the idea into a mockumentary that doubles as a FramingDevice for Al's various music videos. An hour-long version premiered on August 7, 1985 on the Creator/{{Showtime}} network before the full film was released a month later.
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8	The title of the film is a parody from the 1982 documentary ''[[Music/TheBeatles The Compleat Beatles]]''.
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10	While it was difficult to find for years, the film is available now on DVD, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LpvDT5ecxE YouTube]], and major digital streaming services.
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12	Not to be confused with Al's ''other'' [[BlatantLies 100% accurate, unadulterated, and completely verified correct]] {{biopic}}, ''Film/WeirdTheAlYankovicStory''.
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14	----
15	!!Tropes in ''The Compleat Al'':
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17	* AncientAstronauts: Invoked in Al's explanation for how aliens brought rock music to Earth.
18	* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Needless to say, this {{mockumentary}} plays fast and loose with real-life facts.
19	* AsHimself: About half of the film's cast are people playing fictionalized versions of themselves -- these include Al's parents Nick and Mary Yankovic, guitarist [[Creator/StaxRecords Steve Cropper]], Creator/DrDemento, Creator/DickClark, producers Phil Ramone and Rick Derringer, and Al's band members Steve Jay, Jim West, and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz.
20	* AvantGardeMusic: Al is said to have gone into a spiral and created an experimental album ("Me Myself And I") dealing with it. Eventually, his band snaps him out of it by dunking his head in a vat of yogurt.
21	* BigBlackout: Al's high school metal shop teacher tells an anecdote about how Al's wiener roaster blacked out everything in a six-block radius when it was plugged in.
22	* BornInAnElevator: The narration says Al was born in an elevator at St. Vitus Hospital.
23	* BreakingTheFourthWall: At the end of the movie, Al addresses the audience directly and thanks them for their support... as only Al can.
24	* BuccaneerBroadcaster: Al becomes this when he hijacks Creator/{{MTV}} with his own "Al TV" segment.
25	* CelebrityImpersonator: Outside of the Greek Theater, a vendor offers photos with an Al impersonator for $2 each. When the real Al walks by, the vendor shoves him in the impersonator's place, then starts offering bystanders photos with Al for $5 each.
26	* ChickMagnet: ''Playgirl'' magazine declares Al "Year's Biggest Hunk".
27	* ComicalTranslation: When Al checks into a hotel in Tokyo, he uses a guidebook to talk to the staff. Unfortunately, his guidebook is in Spanish.
28	* CompletelyUnnecessaryTranslator: When Al appears in Japan as a guest on a radio show, the hostess asks him a question in Japanese. Al's translator repeats the question to him ''in Japanese,'' prompting Al to confess "I can't understand a word you're saying."
29	* CostumeTestMontage: After Al signs a contract with Ronzoni Records, Barry takes Al costume-shopping to find Al's "look". They go through a half-dozen musical {{Expy}}s before settling on the same Hawaiian shirt Al started with.
30	* DigitalPiracyIsEvil: The movie begins with an anti-piracy notice that warns of the dangers of unlawful duplication, such as discoloration of fine upholstery, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, high blood pressure, the spontaneous combustion of pets, civil unrest, meteorological disturbances, volcanic eruptions, and the Earth falling out of its orbit and plunging into the sun.
31	-->"The producers of this program assume no liability for any of the consequences resulting from your stupid, unthinking, greedy and careless attempt to deprive them of income."
32	* DisappointedInYou: Every time Al's parents appear, they start off complimenting him and his life... before shortly veering into disappointment at his present state.
33	* {{Egopolis}}: After he becomes successful, Al lives in a large white mansion named "Yankland".
34	* {{Fanservice}}: The model in the edible underwear product demonstration.
35	* FictionalCounterpart: Ronzoni Records is one for the real-life Scotti Bros. record company.
36	* ForeignQueasine: When Al's guide in Japan suggests some local dishes, Al rejects them with a loud "yuck!" They end up [[ComfortFood going to [=McDonalds=] instead.]]
37	* FramingDevice: At times, the {{mockumentary}} serves to segue into one of Al's music videos or "Al TV" specials.
38	* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The narrator sneaks one in an UnusualEuphemism:
39	-->"The years passed, [[ToiletHumour like the warm winds following a sumptuous chili dinner.]]"
40	* HardWorkMontage: There's one when the crew is setting up Al's hotel room, set to the song "Midnight Star".
41	* HonestJohnsDealership: Outside of Al's concert at the Greek Theater are several salespeople selling [[KitschCollection tacky souvenirs and questionable merchandise.]]
42	-->"These are your actual partially-eaten hot dogs by Al or members of his immediate entourage, complete with buns and condiments."
43	* HopelessAuditionees: A number of people audition for Al's band, all of whom are told "Thank you" and sent on their way.
44	* IncrediblyLameFun: According to the narrator, Mary Yankovic spends her evenings repeatedly folding and unfolding clothes, while Nick Yankovic's hobbies include filming freeway traffic.
45	* InstantSedation: Al knocked himself out at the nasal decongestant factory after sampling a few bottles of the product.
46	* LazyBum: The punk rock banjo player sings a song about not wanting to do his laundry and trying to get his lover to do it for him.
47	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Near the end of the movie, Al's (fictional) director, producer, and record executive discuss plans to finish the video and wrap up production, just in time for Al to walk in and start throwing out some more outlandish ideas. Cut to the music video for "Dare To Be Stupid," which incorporates all of the ideas just discussed.
48	* MaleGaze: Al is dumbstruck at the model demonstrating the edible underwear product.
49	* {{Mockumentary}}: The broad strokes are true, but the details are not.
50	* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: The master tapes for Al's experimental album "Me Myself And I" are accidentally erased by an airport metal detector.
51	* OldDarkHouse: Music/MichaelJackson's home is portrayed as this, complete with [[HostileWeather dark and stormy weather]] when Al visits.
52	* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Apparently, Music/MichaelJackson is secretly a werewolf.
53	* PornStash: Barry, Al's agent, accidentally leaves "Babes in Bondage" in his office VCR.
54	* PortraitPaintingPeephole: At one point in Michael Jackson's home, Al is watched through a painting with glowing eye beams.
55	* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: Invoked by ''Ebony'' magazine with the cover "Weird Al: The Next Best Thing To Being Black".
56	* RambunctiousItalian: The Ronzoni brothers are portrayed this way. They even compare Ronzoni Records to a pizza, with their artists as the toppings.
57	* RockersSmashGuitars: The film starts with Al setting an accordion on fire, ''a la'' Music/JimiHendrix.
58	* RunningGag:
59	** Whenever Al is photographed with a date, she throws up her hands to [[TheFaceless cover her face.]]
60	** Al's agent Barry Cohen has a penchance for odd [[MixedMetaphor Mixed Metaphors]], ending with "ba-da-beep, ba-da-bop, ba-da-boom."
61	* SelfDeprecation: In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it gag, a ''Variety'' headline reads "[[Music/UHFOriginalMotionPictureSoundtrackAndOtherStuff Fun Zone]] 'Stinks Like A Fish' Says Tartikoff"
62	* SpecialThanks: The credits give special thanks to Ken Ross[[note]]CBS executive[[/note]] and Arthur Mann[[note]] Rykodisc executive and "Weird Al" lookalike[[/note]] "who dared to be stupid", and Music/MichaelJackson and Frank Dileo[[note]]Michael Jackson's manager[[/note]] for their support and "unfailing sense of humor".
63	* StylisticSuck: The "State of Shock" music video, which consists of Harvey Leeds at Epic Records chanting the words over a drum machine backbeat.

Context Film / TheCompleatAl