This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Year: 1984
Country: USA
Director: Rob Reiner
Criterion Spine Number: 12
Reviewed: April 2014
Country: USA
Director: Rob Reiner
Criterion Spine Number: 12
Reviewed: April 2014
Influential, hilarious and surprisingly moving, This Is Spinal Tap is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. A mockumentary (fictitious documentary) about failing band Spinal Tap, the film follows their many trials and rare tribulations. Much of the film’s ample humour comes not from the absurdist situations (such as getting stuck under a stage, or the Stonehenge number) but the characters themselves, who are both exaggerated and incredibly realistic. There’s the lead singer, David, with ridiculously long blonde hair and a deeply annoying girlfriend. His best friend Nigel, the film’s best character, gets the funniest lines (‘turn it up to eleven’, ‘it’s called ‘Lick My Love Pump’). There’s the exploding drummer and the long-suffering tour manager. It’s got all the characters who regularly feature in music docos and proceeds to take the piss out of them. A little bit. Because that’s what really makes Spinal Tap special. There’s a real sense of sadness as we watch the band constantly fail, resulting in its eventual implosion. The moment when Nigel storms out of the band, unable to cope with David’s annoying girlfriend, made me a little teary, because despite how ridiculous the band is, we really, really want them to succeed. It’s a film filled with heart and humour that remains in the mind long after the film is over. Unlike the other films in the Criterion Collection that I’ve seen so far, it’s far from serious without any deeper meaning. It’s just a slice of pure entertainment and there’s nothing wrong with that. Incredibly enjoyable.
Best Scene: Lost under the stage
Overall Verdict: 9
Overall Verdict: 9