This Is Spinal Tap
Composite Score: 86.13
Starring: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, R.J. Parnell, David Kaff, Tony Hendra, Harry Shearer, Bruno Kirby, Ed Begley Jr., Danny Kortchmar, Fran Drescher, and Patrick Macnee
Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner
Genres: Comedy, Music, Mockumentary
MPAA Rating: R
Box Office: $4.74 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
This Is Spinal Tap is Rob Reiner’s feature film directorial debut, which is a mockumentary about the fictional rock band Spinal Tap and their ill-fated American tour to promote their new album Smell the Glove. The film stars Reiner as documentarian Marty DiBergi, Michael McKean as lead vocalist David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel, and Harry Shearer as bassist Derek Smalls. Tony Hendra as the band’s manager Ian Faith, David Kaff as keyboardist Viv Savage, and June Chadwick as David’s girlfriend Jeanine round out the film’s principle cast alongside a slew of cameo features. The film jumpstarted Reiner’s career as a filmmaker, launched the mockumentary genre into the mainstream, and remains one of the best comedies of all time, earning a spot on many outlets’ top-100 lists.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I don’t know that someone who has never seen a band documentary will be able to fully appreciate the hilarity of This Is Spinal Tap, so I’d encourage you to check one out – even something like One Direction: This Is Us or Justin Bieber: Never Say Never would probably suffice to understand what’s being made light of here. There’s just a few little jokes that become so much funnier if you have seen what they’re referencing in reality. Once you’ve seen at least one actual band documentary, though, I can’t think of any reason to not watch This Is Spinal Tap. It’s quick, it’s funny, it’s smart. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
It’s quick, it’s funny, it’s smart. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it. For real, though, This Is Spinal Tap showcases comedic cinema at its finest. The jokes come from every direction, and they hit so much more often than they miss. As a predominantly improvised film, it accomplishes the feel of a real documentary, capturing the look and energy of an actual music documentary. It touches on relevant issues to the music community, making light of them without ever feeling like it’s got some malicious intent to slander any particular group, instead poking fun at the ways that outsiders seek to influence musicians and at the ineptitudes of musicians outside of their realms of expertise. The music does so well in its parodying of the popular genres of the eras in which it’s set that the songs could almost be chart toppers themselves. All in all, it’s a film where the commitment of everyone in the filmmaking process is so apparent, and it deserves to be celebrated for that.
This Is Spinal Tap is the perfect mockumentary – self-aware, intelligent, hilarious, and authentic in its message – and it stands the test of time in both its portrayal of the music industry and in its many bits of humor, earning it an irrefutable place among the Greatest Films of All Time. It will definitely be the funniest for audiences familiar with actual music and band documentaries, but if you’ve seen even one of those, you’re sure to find the humor in it. Currently, the film is not available on any streaming service, but you just might be able to find a physical copy of it online or at your local library to check out and give it a go.
