"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever"

Rating: 8/10 (22 November 2008)

"This is Spinal Tap" is a cult classic and the epitome of 'mockumentary' film-making. We are shown the sights, sounds and smells of fictional band Spinal Tap as they embark on a North American tour that keeps going from bad to worse with poor reception and internal problems.
The cast is a pretty good one and the 'band' members (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest & Harry Shearer) actually played their own instruments. Of course, in a film like this you want realism rather than acting prowess and I must say that most of the cast performs well in this regard.
The plot (what little of it there is) is filled with humorous escapades and memorable quotes. The humour is often subtle enough that it will fly under the radar of some viewers. As for realism, the fact that so many musicians have remarked on the film's veracity should give an indication of the writers' knowledge of their subject.
On the directorial front, Rob Reiner does a good job of fashioning this film like a true documentary. A more polished approach would not have worked nearly as well. When people are confused about whether or not this is a real documentary you know that Reiner has hit his mark. The music is also enjoyable, particularly since it so adroitly imitates the real thing.
I recommend this film but for me there's still something missing. There are countless memorable scenes and quotes but the film as a whole lacks cohesiveness and a strong story. Definitely worth watching for music fans though I don't know how much others will take from it.