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This Is Spinal Tap on DVD (1984)

This Is Spinal Tap cover art
Play This Is Spinal Tap trailer
Average rating: (74%)
11134111120717
3.5
 
Starring: Andrew Divoff | Rob Reiner | Billy Crystal | Christopher Guest | June Chadwick | Ed Begley Jr. | Michael McKean
Director: Rob Reiner
Studio: MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 80 mins
Certificate: 15
Collections: 100 must-see movies
User collections: Stonehenge on DVD | Jupp Must See!!! | My top 100 | Other People's No 1s | A top ten of sorts | Great Quotes... | Pills, Thrills & Bellylaughs | My Fab Films | Best Deals Ever? | 'Best of breed'
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Hearing-impaired: English, German
Subtitles: English, German
Released: 16/10/2000

Brief synopsis of 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.

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Critics Reviews

Tom Charity, LOVEFiLM
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 »
Rating of 5 stars out of 5 Radio Times

This brilliantly crafted and completely on-target satire of the rock 'n' roll industry is filmed in mock documentary style, with every rock-music cliché savagely lampooned for maximum hilarity, as director Rob Reiner follows a fictitious British heavy metal band on tour. The Stonehenge-inspired production number is a showstopping highlight, but there's also immense pleasure to be had in the details, particularly the unbelievably crass song lyrics. Christopher Guest and Michael McKean are perfect as the group's incredibly stupid lead guitarist and singer, and Reiner's unsurpassed spoof never hits a false note. A cult classic and a pop send-up landmark.

Rating of 4 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Witty, wickedly accurate satire that skewers the pretensions of rock musicians and their hangers-on, done in documentary style. It hits its target with total precision.

USA Today

"...[The movie is] required viewing in every musician's tour bus..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsThis Goes to Eleven

Simon Chaffer from London, England , 11/11/2003

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.

  20 out of 20 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 stars

Perusha#1 from READING , 17/05/2004

I had wanted to see Spinal Tap since it came out, but never quite managed it. Alas, for me it was not worth the wait, or more likely, I moved on in the past 20 years...

Documenting the unintentional idiocy and posturing (both intentional and unintenional) of a has been English heavy rock band as they tour the states would have been great then, but the humour relies on familiarity with bad rock documentaries, over the low-budget top music gigs but more than these, an abiding appreciation for the sort of music being mocked. I briefly reminisced about gigs where one came home stinking of petuouli and one's ears rang for a couple of days after but, in truth, most of the remaining pleasure for me was recognising pastiches of bands I hadn't heard since I was a teenager and hope I no longer own tapes of.

Pity - I'd probably have loved it back then. Two stars as it's well done, just not for me.

(Mark)

  15 out of 20 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsGenius.

trotsuk from LONDON , 16/06/2005

Utterly utterly utterly brilliant. The funniest film ever made, if you ask me. Absolutely spot-on. Makes me cry with laughter. Can't believe it's not shown every year at glastonbury on the big screen. Anyone who doesn't find this film funny deserves a damn good kicking.

  14 out of 14 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsStonehenge was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf!

Clucky from Cardiff, Wales , 11/08/2004

With its formidable dialogue, superb characters and excellent execution, Tap is pure cinematic gold. Whether you are drawn in by the parody of the Rock N? Roll lifestyle or the wealth of comedic set pieces, this film never fails to hit the spot.

There are too many classic moments to reel off here, but probably two of my favourites include the scene where they are desperately searching for a way out of the basement and the Stonehenge set piece. The comedy is aided by a well-structured documentary (?or rockumentary if you will?) style of filming and by a director who knows how to avoid dwelling on a gag for too long.

This is a great film and one that will always feature in my top 10 list. If you haven?t seen this film then shame on you?.. This one goes right up to 6 out of 5.

Extras (On 2 discs) ? Numerous but probably the most rewarding is the hilarious commentary provided by the Tap members and the 1 hour + worth of deleted scenes.

  15 out of 23 people found this review helpful
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