This Is Spinal Tap [M]

Marty DiBergi follows Britain’s legendary and loudest rock band, Spinal Tap, on their tour of the United States. Getting up close and personal with David St. Hubbins (lead guitar), Nigel Tufnel (lead guitar), Derek Smalls (lead bass), Mick Shrimpton (current drummer), and Ian Faith (manager), Marty brings Tap fans the ultimate rock documentary filled with one-on-ones with the band, rare historical footage, and live coverage of the shows on tour. 

“These go to 11.” THIS MOVIE IS FUCKING FANTASTIC! It’s a compulsive quoter’s absolute dream! It’s got absolutely everything from orgasmically sexy glam-rock costumes to brilliantly funny and original parody rock songs to gut-bustingly hilarious and clever comebacks and one-liners. IT’S FUCKING FANTASTIC! I LOVE this film! 

Marty DiBergi follows Britain’s legendary and loudest rock band, Spinal Tap, on their tour of the United States. Getting up close and personal with David St. Hubbins (lead guitar), Nigel Tufnel (lead guitar), Derek Smalls (lead bass), Mick Shrimpton (current drummer), and Ian Faith (manager), Marty brings Tap fans the ultimate rock documentary filled with one-on-ones with the band, rare historical footage, and live coverage of the shows on tour. 

We must first draw attention to the fact that this movie, I’m pretty sure, was the first “mockumentary” ever done. Filmed as a documentary but with a completely fictional setting and characters; this is something that’s not done very often and it’s wonderful because every time you see a film that walks down this road, it sends up flags in the mind that this is special, this is important, and this is something that’s really clever! 

The driving forces behind This Is Spinal Tap are really the style of filming, which we have now covered, and the absolutely phenomenal script (or possibly lack thereof). The banter and dialogue that is tossed back and forth between the characters is just so memorable: This Is Spinal Tap brought us immortal moments such as “these amps go to 11”, “many people spontaneously combust each year, it’s just not widely reported”, “dressed like an Australian’s nightmare”, and “this piece is called Lick My Love Pump.” Not to mention the fantastic parody rock songs that the cast and crew have come up with: songs such as Sex Farm, Big Bottom, Majesty of Rock, and Stonehenge still force the audience into fits of laughter and head-banging regardless of the generation. 

Starring Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Tony Hendra, R.J. Parnell, David Kaff, and featuring memorable cameos from Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, Ed Begley Jr., Fran Drescher, Dana Carvey, and Angelica Houston, This is Spinal Tap is a fantastic mockumentary packed with comedy, rock n roll, fights, drama, fans, tension, and cucumbers wrapped in tinfoil. Seriously, it is so clever and so funny and such an original work of cinematic achievement that has earned its place in The Book. IT’S FUCKING FANTASTIC!