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This Is Spinal Tap
1984
A brilliant and hilarious documentary-style satire of a has-been British heavy metal band who never really was on an absurd American comeback tour that never quite gets off the ground, THIS IS SPINAL TAP practically birthed the mockumentary style. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer are David St. Hubbins, Nigel .. Read more
| Starring | Andrew Divoff, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest |
|---|---|
| Director | Rob Reiner |
| Genres | Comedy |
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This Is Spinal Tap
A brilliant and hilarious documentary-style satire of a has-been British heavy metal band who never really was on an absurd American comeback tour that never quite gets off the ground, THIS IS SPINAL TAP practically birthed the mockumentary style. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer are David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls, respectively--three clueless, self-absorbed men who form the nucleus of Spinal Tap, aging purveyors of overwrought songs with titles such as "Big Bottom," "Smell the Glove," and "Sex Farm." Shot in faux cinema verite-style with director Rob Reiner as fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi, the film lampoons just about every rock & roll cliche (not to mention every rockumentary cliche) in the book as it follows these fallen rock idols from one disastrous gig to the next. Scenes of the tour's descent from desperation into total collapse are interspersed with interviews in which the band members delightfully prattle on inanely about the none-too-illustrious history and dubious vision of Spinal Tap. THIS IS SPINAL TAP is a striking and acutely hysterical directorial debut for Reiner and a deserved cult classic. Watch for an endless array of cameos by wonderful comic character actors along the way.
| Starring | Andrew Divoff, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, June Chadwick, Ed Begley Jr., Michael McKean, Ed Begley |
|---|---|
| Director | Rob Reiner |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 20 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 24 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 must-see movies |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English, German |
| Subtitles | English, German |
| Released | DVD: 16 Oct 2000 Blu-ray: 07 Sep 2009 Production year: 1984 |
| Format | DVD |
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
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Critics' reviews (6)
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As we know, most out-takes end up on the cutting room floor because they just don't cut it. Sometimes though, there is such a surplus of outstanding material, those decisions must have... read more »
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Most helpful member's review
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27 out of 27 people found this review helpful
This Goes to Eleven
Arguably one of the funniest films ever made when it came out in 1984, this stands up remarkably well considering it is now nearly 20 years old.
A British rock group who have been together since the early sixties are now reduced to playing innuendo laced heavy metal to half empty American halls. And that's before things really start to go wrong!
From out and out slapstick to subtle wordplay, the comedy just keeps on coming. Brilliantly observed and acted, this film manages to be hysterical and yet believeable and even moving at times. The mark of a great film is that you never want it to end and this a perfect example. It's such a fine line between stupid and clever but this is pure genius. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Big disappointment
This film was recommended to me by a colleague as 'the funniest film ever made.' Admittedly, the colleague was in his late forties, but we share a similar sense of humour. Apart from one scene which made me smile, the rest was utter, utter rubbish! Perhaps it's just dated and was hilarious at the time of it's release. If you are old enough to have appreciated their music in it's hayday and enjoy watching people ridicule themselves then you just might sympathise with my 'senior' colleague.
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News and features
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Anvil! The Story of Anvil: Anvil and Sacha Gervasi interview
- 18 Feb 2009
In 1982 the demigods of Canadian rock, Anvil, release their second album Metal on Metal. Although hugely influential on their peers such as Metallica and Guns N' Roses, the record failed to break the band into the big time and they've been trying ever since. Now, over 25 years later, success has come from an unexpected direction in the form of a documentary by The Terminal writer and lifelong Anvil fan, Sacha Gervasi. Hilarious and heart-warming, it's This is Spinal Tap, but with a real band.... Read more
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