Review of American Movie (1999) by Ashley C — 14 Jun 2008

I saw this when it was in theaters and, in an inversion of the oft-told tale about newcomers to This Is Spinal Tap, I was convinced I was watching a mockumentary. I remember recommending it as such to my boss and, when he looked at me skeptically, I commented, "Well, put it this way: if this was real, I feel sorry for these guys.".

Eight or nine years later, now that I know it's the genuine article, I realize this was an easier film when I felt freer to ridicule it. It's still funny, but many of the laughs are decidedly uncomfortable, and the pathos is at times unbearably frank. Which I suppose means the filmmakers did their job.