Hilarious and yet completely believable.

Rating: Null/10 (19 February 2009)

I'll always remember the first time I caught This is Spinal Tap running early in the morning on the BBC, over a decade ago when I was still in my early teens. Looking back, the movie left an entirely different impression; not knowing what exactly I was watching, I was convinced that I was viewing a genuine documentary on a big band I had never heard of. The dysfunction, the quarrelling, the pathetic accidents and complaining and the delusion all seemed completely real- there was something humorous about it, sure, but I didn't laugh. It wasn't until I saw it again many years later after hearing about the movie naturally because I was going through my initiation to heavy metal in general. The descriptions from friends were clear enough to know that that was what I had seen all those years ago; but wait, "It's a comedy?" I said, unbeknownst of my impending doom. "Of course it is, you idiot! It's hilarious! I guess you probably thought it was a real documentary too!"
Sure enough, I decided to keep that one quiet lest I be subjected to more heckling. Nevertheless, such an embarrassing piece of personal history (and indeed, for many real-life performers who did the exact same thing) remains a testament to both the quality of the film, and indeed its humour, which can easily be misinterpreted as something other than what it actually is; which is, of course, a very thick helping of satire-heavy parody. This style, which was at that point in time rather original and daring, implements a documentary approach that aims to accentuate real human dialogue and dynamics between the stereotypical rock and roll band with its usual clashing of titan egos. As a result, This is Spinal Tap becomes a feature that feels genuine and truly engrossing in its deconstruction of such a lifestyle, but certainly not to the point where all humour is lost. Indeed, there lies a fine line between stupid, and clever, and while director Rob Reiner certainly allows for that line to become blurred during Spinal Tap's final moments of glory, it is done with enough tact and balance to ensure that each element of the feature (humour and character) is maintained with conviction.
Despite my history with the film during the last decade of my life however, I sat down and watched it for the third time tonight (which, is actually quite a lot for myself) and found myself laughing out loud for the entire duration. Gone was the quiet awkwardness I felt from that first time, and accentuated was the comical timing of these moments to which brings out that awkwardness but not at expense of killing a joke. Granted, Spinal Tap were still the same whiny pampered rock band I became engrossed with a decade before, but with a little more of an eye for dark wit and satire, This is Spinal Tap opened up and revealed itself as a hilarious and yet completely believable take on superstardom in all its deluded pretence and downright hysterical eccentricities.
Part of what makes the experience such a joy in the first place however is through the performances of the main cast and their commitment to making a feature which up until that point, had only been flirted with. Ten years earlier, This is Spinal Tap had me convinced that I had just seen a real documentary; the same cannot be said after my most recent viewing, but this is only because of prior knowledge. Aesthetically, Spinal Tap would lay the ground work for many similar mockumentary movies and TV shows hoping to use the style as an ultra-realist way of portraying the petty nuances of human relations for humorous effect. The ensemble, who essentially took notes from a script and ad-libbed the rest, nail the balance between being convincing and grounded without losing their naïve rock-star appeal and stature; this style in turn elicits a strong comical presence within the actors' performances whilst making them compelling, dynamic individuals able to reaffirm the movie's mockumentary approach. Not only does it allow for Spinal Tap to engross in its story/document, but it creates characters that feel alive, and thus, we too feel their embarrassment and ridicule.
To go into any real depth as to why Reiner's movie strikes the chords that it does, seems at least a little disconnected and arbitrary to the actual experience of watching the film itself however. That being said, taken from a purely analytical and critical viewpoint, This is Spinal Tap nevertheless stands firmly as a mostly flawless, concise hour and a half of comedy with real personality and distinction. Yet a movie such as this shouldn't and couldn't be digested properly under the illusion that you're watching for a perfect, fulfilling experience filled with the highest calibre of drama or writing. No, instead, This is Spinal Tap exists as a tribute to cinema that feels natural, gets the job done, and does it without resorting to tired clichés and dull, repeated ideas. It's a masterpiece in its own rights, providing laughter with memorable characters and situations that leave you laughing long after the punch lines have evaporated. Most of all however, is that it's just downright fun and yet strangely human; indeed, just as you think that you've heard a beautiful, heart-felt melody inspired by works of masters, you'll soon be enlightened to know it's actually a piece by Mach, entitled Lick my Love Pump.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is Spinal Tarp direct from hell.

A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)