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This Is Spinal Tap [1984]
![This Is Spinal Tap [1984]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EVAJHTWZL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The comedic genius of This Is Spinal Tap is confirmed by the fact that a majority of studio executives were utterly clueless about its brilliance. As a first-time director and cowriter, Rob Reiner must have felt simultaneously frustrated and elated, knowing that the obtuseness of movie executives was a clue to his debut project's potential greatness. Now, of course, the clarity of hindsight and the rarity of superior satire have turned This Is Spinal Tap into one of the funniest documentary spoofs of all time. Reiner and the members of "Tap" (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer) couldn't have picked a better target for their satire, because heavy metal music in the early 1980s was already a borderline case of self-parody. From the bizarre, premature deaths of the band's drummers to the backstage squabbles over sexist cover art and meddling groupies, this movie scores about a hundred comedic bull's-eyes for lampooning every possible aspect of rock pomposity in the age of Kiss. It's a virtual bible of rock & roll irreverence, so accurate in its observations that it's become a tour-bus classic for real bands around the world. On the one-to-ten scale of satirical inspiration, This Is Spinal Tap is like the modified amplifiers that Christopher Guest so hilariously demonstrates: this one goes to 11. --Jeff Shannon
Editorial
Video Description
Special Features
Editorial
Synopsis
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.
Editorial
From the Back Cover
You're about to get heavy with one of music history's greatest - and loudest - heavy metal bandsSpinal Tap! Whether or not you're a die-hard fan of the group, you'll love this detailed "rockumentary" of England's legendary Spinal Tap. Acclaimed commercial director Marty DiBergi, also takes you behind-the-scenes for an intimate look at a band whose time has comeand goneand come againand Through interviews, rare footage and lots of music - including classic Tap tunes like "Big Bottom" and "Hell Hole" - you'll get acquainted with David St. Hubbins (lead guitar), Nigel Tufnel (lead guitar), Derek Smalls (lead bass) and every drummer who ever lived - and died for this renowned rock band. Be part of the sights, sounds and smells of this celebrated heavy metal phenomenon. It's an experience you'll never forget.
It's a fine line between clever and stupid
Review date: 2008-08-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
Spinal Tap. Not your everyday mulleted metal-rockers -- oh no, they're the loudest band in the world.
Or so says Marti DiBergi (played with a straight face by director Rob Reiner), in a hysterical "rockumentary" that focuses on the dumber side of rock'n'roll. "This is Spinal Tap" has become the quintessential rock'n'roll movie -- full of strangely lifelike jokes, gigantic hair, annoying girlfriends, hilarious acting, and a many an exploding drummer from time to time.
Spinal Tap, the loudest band in Britain, is returning to the US for the first time in years to promote their new album, "Smell The Glove." Trailing behind them is DiBergi, capturing every strange moment on film and interviewing the solemnly strange trio that makes up the core, Nigel (Christopher Guest), Derek (Harry Shearer), and David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean). Their many drummers have died in a series of bizarre freak accidents (including the vague "gardening accident"), choking on someone else's vomit, and spontaneous combustion).
Charting the history of the band (including psychedelic rock) to the present, DiBergi chronicles the controversy that springs up around "Smell the Glove"'s sexist cover ("What's wrong with being sexy?" "Sex-IST!"). After bizarre mishaps (a Stonehenge set the size of a cat), waning popularity and falling sales, the manager quits in anger and Nigel walks out. Is it the end of Spinal Tap?
One of the funniest ways make something funny is to stay really, really close to reality -- and that is where "This is Spinal Tap" strikes gold. It sticks JUST close enough to be semi-accurate, but remains just on the outside line of comedy -- basically, if you like laughtracks, gross-out humour and pratfalls, this isn't your kind of movie.
The humor is all the funnier because it's delivered in a deadpan manner: Nigel's amp that "goes to 11," the cucumber incident, or when Derek gets trapped in a plastic pod, and has to be freed via a desperate roadie with a blowtowtorch. And sprinkled in between are little interviews between DiBergi and the band, littered with hilarious quotables ("It's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water").
In fact, Reiner manages to craft a very believable rock'n'roll world, complete with label controversies, Sinatra-loving chauffeurs, groupies and frequent technical malfunctions. And the music... hoo boy, just try not to laugh at "Gimme Some Money," "Sex Farm," "Listen To The Flower People," and the sidesplitting "Big Bottom" ("Big bottoms drive me out of my mind/how could I leave that behind?"). Not to mention Nigel's ghastly Druid monologue.
And rock in-jokes are sprinkled liberally through the movie. There are homages to Black Sabbath (the teeny Stonehenge), Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin (playing a guitar with a violin), and countless other little jokes. Even Jeanine is based on famed rock girlfriends like Yoko Ono and Anita Pallenberg.
As for the actors... well, reportedly they made up a lot of their dialogue on the wing, which might explain why they are so unspeakably funny. You'd almost think they were real -- in fact, a few uninformed people have.
Guest and McKean form the core of the story, as the lovably clueless Nigel ("It's one louder") and the savvier, too-influenced-by-his-girlfriend David. These guys really rule the screen with their rambling dialogue and gigantic hair. The hairy Harry Shearer is less front-and-center, but both he's pretty funny too -- as is Reiner, who somehow manages to keep a straight face through it all.
"This is Spinal Tap" is the ultimate rock movie -- a funny, deadpan, wittily mocking little look at the world's loudest band. A treasure.
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Reviews
Better than Goonies
Review date: 2007-09-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
It doesn't get much funnier than this! This is one of the funniest films I have ever seen it had some funny lyrics in songs where they sang about funny things and then funny bits where they were talking and funny bits when they were on stage.
Expect laughs and Spandex a-plenty as Derek Smalls and co perform hits including Sex Farm, Big Bottom, and Lick My Love Pump (part one of an unreleased rock trilogy).
Can the band survive challenges such as the sexism claims over their album cover (Lick my Glove), malfunctioning on-stage pods and Stonehenge being trampled by dwarfs?
Overall, 11 out of 10.
I watched this film by mistake!
Review date: 2007-07-26 Rating: 6 out of 10
Someone, one day will have to explain to me what is so good about this film? Maybe it's because I'm stupid? (I've got a PhD - maybe it's because I've got a PhD??!!). Maybe it's because I live in Germany (only joking German friends :-) Maybe it's because I read all the reviews here about this being the funniest film of all time (you guys obviously haven't seen Withnail and I). The most quotable film of all time? (you definitely haven't seen Withnail!). Or maybe it's because I hate heavy metal/hard rock (whatever you call it) so much and hated the spoof heavy metal just as much (without laughing once). Or maybe it's because I've never been in the music business and don't get the jokes?
Maybe, I dunno. But I have more rational explanation: the whole movie relies on the suspension of disbelief - that you 'buy' that it's real. Yet, it so obviously ISN'T real. That bit of suspension of disbelief lasted about 5 minutes with me. Thereafter, I found nearly the whole film - with one or two exceptions - cringingly embarrassing and NOT funny. I admit that there is a notoriously thin line between cringe and humour but Spinal Tap didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I love satire - I love Ali G and Borat but this satire is a piss-take of something which is, in my view, already a joke - a joke about a joke isn't that funny, although I guess it might be for those in the 'know.'
So why 3 stars? Well, I thought the acting was first class. I did find one or two scenes mildly amusing, e.g. the Stone Henge scene, although it was funny in a kind of Mr Bean way, not really sophisticated. The dialogues are well done. And I thought the characterisation was brilliant - the characters are definitely believable.
Nevertheless, a total let-down. I only watched it because a Withnail fan recommended it to me......... now I see that, to paraphrase Withnail, 'I've watched it by mistake.'
Most influential comedy of the last quarter century?
Review date: 2007-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
Without this film, would we have had 'The Office'? Ricky Gervais cites this film as a major influence, and so do many of today's comedy innovators. Years ahead of its time, the film still feels fresh now and although the team responsible have made many excellent films and TV shows since, this is the one they'll be most remembered for. Outstanding in every regard. The rumour that 'The Darkness' would star in a remake...was just made up by me a minute ago (but wouldn't it be great?)
Greatest Mockumentary Ever!
Review date: 2007-05-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
How can anyone give this less than the maximum stars??? It hits the target on every level, it is so brilliant...and seems to be able to do that very rare thing indeed, become funnier the MORE you see it. Seen it countless times and never tire of it. It is the greatest comedy movie ever, every scene is a gem..if you disagree, i'll send Ian round with his cricket bat!!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Rob Reiner
June Chadwick
Christopher Guest
Andrew Divoff
Billy Crystal
Creators:
Andrew Divoff (Primary Contributor)
Rob Reiner (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070004380
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen,
Release date: 2000-10-16
Universal product code (UPC): 743216502721
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 85 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1984-03-02
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)