This Is Spinal Tap - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: In the age of blow dryers and mini megaliths
Review: Though a bit scattershot and predictable at times, "This is Spinal Tap" is the definite satire on the big hair, late-70s rock scene. The first time I saw this film, it took me awhile to realize it was a put-on. The performances are so dead-pan, dead-on and sincere, and the ensemble work is so perfect that you forget you are watching a hilarious send-up of a music genre that is already a self-caricature.

The film follows the come-back tour of a band that never was much of anything to begin with. The band members are semi-talented, self-absorbed and self-important. They are oblivious to the fact that a string of cancellations and no-shows at album signings means they are not popular. The band soldiers on, from one tiny venue to another (at one point they are actually second billing to a puppet show), proving that if you can't be better, you can be louder. The film satirizes everything rock: the faux-satanic outer space stage gear; the trouser-bulging, blow-dried and hairy-chested look of the period; pretentious evocations of all things druid; unreflectively and unabashedly sexist album covers and song titles ("Sex Farm Woman" and "Lick My Love Pump" being my favorites). You have your thinning-haired, bevested managers, empty-headed full-chested groupies, manager-wannabe girlfriends, exploding drummers, and much more.

Special kudos to Michael McKean and Christopher Guest for playing the band's "founders," Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins. They are entirely convincing as old school chums who have been rocking for years. Just managing to keep a straight face through this insanity is worthy of an Oscar. A notable mention to Harry Shears, whose leather-and-steel-clad bass player is a preview of a similar turn in "A Mighty Wind". Recreations of the band's past as a 60s "Flower Power" band are just perfect. The only thing missing (thankfully) is alcohol and drug abuse, which would have ruined the band's (and the film's) loopy innocence.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie Goes To "11"...
Review: This movie, unlike, say, The Decline Of Western Civilization, conveys a realistic portrayal of what it's like to be in a working, touring band. Admittedly, it goes a bit overboard, but it's still pretty accurate. This is coming from a working musician who has been playing in front of audiences for over twenty years.

The technical problems - getting lost on the way to the stage, the six-inch Stonehenge monolith (complete with dwarves kicking it around), the wireless receiver picking up air traffic noise, the pod that fails to open - every working musician has had problems like that, although I'm pretty safe in saying that there haven't been too many exploding drummers. And the arguments between the members of the group are all too familiar to anyone who has picked up a guitar, bass, or drum sticks.

At any rate, this film should be required viewing for anyone who thinks they want to be a musician. If, after watching it, they still think they can handle it, they should go ahead. However, I'm sure that more than a few people sat down to watch it and decided afterward not to go to the hock shop and buy that old guitar they were looking at the week before.

All of that said, this is a hysterically funny film. Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean are amazingly talented comedians, actors, and songwriters. It's hard not to tap your foot to songs like "(Tonight) I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" or "Big Bottom".

See this film. See it again. Watch it on a continuous loop over and over again for a week. You'll still be laughing when it's done.

Rating:
Summary: childish
Review: It's difficult to come up with words that will do an adequate job of describing this movie but here's one that pretty much says it all:

Childish - seeing Lenny (from Laverne and Shirley) speaking with a fake English accent playing air guitar pretty much sums it up.

There really isn't anything good to be said about this flick.

The music - unimaginative and boring as is the scriptwriting.

The humor - (someone mentioned "deadpan") isn't deadpan but just dead.

The premise - sad and lame... a tasteless "Rutles" parody.

The acting (if you want to call it that) - juvenile at best

There is nothing good to be said about this video other than that it points out how worthless image without content is.

If Rob Reiner was trying to prove he the real life "meathead" `Archie Bunker" always said he was then bravo! This DVD is a worthless waste of time, effort, energy, plastic and (if you were to buy it) money too.

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Band of all time!!
Review: Spinal Tap is THE mocu-mentary. It is soo witty. There is no slapstick humor or direct comedy. It is more ironical and situation which helps to keep the characters serious as the movie really were a documentary. The result is the creation of a strange, awful that gains life in the follies of stardom(?).

Rating:
Summary: "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever"
Review: is the closest bottomline I can draw for this film. Made in 1984, This is Spinal Tap is a great mockumentary that shows the rise and fall of a great but imaginary band. It represents bands of all times, and no band at all. Anyone who listens to, or has any vague idea of classic Rock 'n' Roll, would see their parody from The Beatles to Ozzy Osburne at some points in the movie. I particularly love the parody with their early song "Flower People".

The characters are well-developed and realistic (if you're a rocker you may agree with this more =)). They say funny things and do ridiculous actions. Some of the jokes are real close to hitting "dumb" but it gracefully misses. Laughs are inserted everywhere throughout the film, though again, it's better if you know some rock 'n' roll knowledge to get the laughs.

Criterion disc contains an extra of 60-minute cut scenes add alternative "footage" and further completes the story with more laughs. It is long out-of-print but it's the definitive edition of this great movie. Get it if you can. But hey, enough of my yakkin', what'd ya say? Let's boogie!