714. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Running Time: 82 minutes
Directed By: Rob Reiner
Written By: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer
Main Cast: Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Tony Hendra

REINER WEEK: PART 1

Sure "Meathead" isn't the greatest director of all-time, but the fact that he has four films in the "1001" book gives him rights to a tribute week here on the blog, so damn it, I'm going to give it to him. His first film up is "This Is Spinal Tap", a film that I had never seen and that is currently streaming on Netflix.

The film doesn't really have a plot, but rather, is set up like a documentary (expect it's fake, earning it the name "mockumentary") and tells the story of the fictitious band Spinal Tap. We're introduced to the band, including front man David St. Hubbins (McKean), guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Shearer). The "documentary crew" meets up with Spinal Tap during their newest U.S. tour, as they promote their new album, "Smell the Glove". The film is loaded with one-liners and comedy bits that there really isn't a whole lot of time for a plot. Instead we get fake archival footage of the band, road stories, stories about how the band was formed and life on the road for the British rockers. However, a plot is sort of squeezed out when David's girlfriend joins the band on the road and becomes their new manager, ruffling Nigel's feathers. Rob Reiner plays the documentarian, Marty DeBergi.

"This Is Spinal Tap" is a film that I've always wanted to see, but until last night, had just never gotten around to it. After watching it, I was left with that "That was it?" feeling. It frequently happens with me and movies that I put off seeing for years and years, because when I finally see them, I've built them up in my own head for so long that they've become great without me ever witnessing them. However, when trying to erase all the preconceived notions of greatness about the film and looking at it based solely on the picture itself, it wasn't half bad. It was actually really funny and sure, I laughed out loud a few times. I've always enjoyed Michael McKean, though I've really never seen a whole lot of him and prior to "This Is Spinal Tap" had NEVER seen Christopher Guest and he turned out to be a new find for me, as he was really the star of the film - comedy wise.

If you're looking for a laugh...or two, then give "This Is Spinal Tap" a look. Musicians will probably get an extra kick out of the jokes, as there's a whole bunch of stuff in there that kind of pokes fun at real life rock bands, including the many deaths of the many drummers of Spinal Tap, the controversy surrounding the cover art of their album and the on-stage perils of the band. The film isn't perfect, even for a comedy, but it has it's moments.

RATING: 6/10 Nothing great, nothing horrid, so a '6' is fitting. Next up for Reiner: "Stand by Me".

MOVIES WATCHED: 278
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 723

July 5, 2011 1:10pm