One of the most touching love stories of the 1980s.

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2000)

'Spinal Tap' is a bit like 'Life of Brian'. It is one of those films you watched a thousand times as a kid, re-enacting scenes and quoting one-liners with friends as if they expressed the meaning of life (they do). It is impossible to be objective about, or even enjoy it as a film - it is recognition, not surprise, that now comprises the pleasure.

Even so, the film slots in neatly with Reiner's future romantic comedies, and the relationship between Nigel and David is immensely touching, as they have to battle the usual obstcles to their love before realising that they are worthless without each other. Watch how David celebrates the juvenile misogyny of 'Big Bottoms' by thrusting his priapic axe against Nigel's titular rump. Every farcical set-piece, song, line of dialogue, facial expression, incident is a classic. So Rob, what happened?