This is Spinal Tap

Rating: *****
Cast:
Marty DiBergi: Rob Reiner
David St. Hubbins: Michael McKean
Nigel Tufnel: Christopher Guest
Derek Smalls: Harry Shearer
Directed by: Rob Reiner

Nigel: "I just love the D key. It's so sad. It can make people just weep uncontrollably." *plays a few keys* I really feel influenced by Beethoven and Bach, you know, classical music and stuff. I really like it and I feel that this song will be a lot like it, somewhere in between."
Marty: "That sounds good. What's the song called?"
Nigel: "Oh, its called 'Lick my love pump.'"

This quote is an example of the dialog in This is Spinal Tap a fictitious rock n' roll band who are over-the-hill, but don't realize it. They are an absurd band (as the above quote points out) and they don't realize it, which is what makes this movie funny. Funny is an understatement though; hilarious is more like it. The humour is so subtle though, and one must pay attention, and/or watch the movie a number of times in order to get all of the humour. I know I did. There is so much to this movie though... perhaps I'll move on to a plot synopsis first, then more about what I feel about the film

The Plotline: Spinal Tap, a heavy metal band is just beginning their first tour of the United States to promote their new album "Smell the Glove." At the start, they are playing to huge audiences, but as they go along on the tour, the gigs start getting smaller and smaller; and indication of just how outdated Spinal Tap are. At the end, they play a gig following a puppet show. Woven throughout the plot are the intrigues of a rock and roll band; in-fighting, conflicts about songs, fights with the manager, etc., all the things we expect rock and roll bands to do. Most of it is ridiculous, and we are expected to get the jokes. If someone doesn't get the jokes, they don't understand why Spinal Tap is so funny. In fact, those who dont' realize Spinal Tap don't exist, don't find this movie funny.

Anyways, more on the movie. Thinking about this some more, I should stress about how absurd the band is. Their songs are just ridiculous... or are they? Their songs are catchy, and sound very much like a real rock band. Their live acts are gimmicky to the extreme, and when they don't work out (such as in Stonehenge) they have the audience rolling on the ground laughing. As well, there are a number of scenes (such as the quote listed above, or the 'turn it up to 11' scene) which just magnify the humour of this movie. On top of being hilarious, the acting and directing in this movie is very well done. All of the actors were real enough, and in fact all of them wrote and played the songs from the movie. That impressed me. This movie has also influenced so many other movies (in fact, Christopher Guest has gone on to direct other mockumentaries along the lines of Spinal Tap).I don't really have anything bad to say about this movie. It attacks the rock n' roll genre of music (which I love) but at the same time, I realize that the attacks are justifiable. Rock Bands do act like that

Anyways, that's the end of my review. Watch this movie, I'm so serious. I regret not having watched it sooner in fact, for it is by far the funniest movie I've seen this year. -K.R