Review of This Is Spinal Tap (1984) by Jake W — 15 Jun 2011

This is Spinal Tap is a film so rife with over-the-top zaniness and yet one that maintains a fairly subdued demeanor. It is a brilliant comic satire of rock & roll that revels in general lunacy, but it is played 100% straight, and this is where most of its brilliance comes from. The pseudo-documentary style, deemed mockumentary, is an absolutely brilliant approach and a touch of genius that, in retrospect, makes one question why it isn't used all that often in the world of cinema. The concept of presenting a satire as if it was being made earnestly and with all seriousness results in a stunningly sublime and ultimately hilarious effect because it adds the extra level of linkage between this film's script and what is reality that many other satires sometimes struggle to develop or maintain. Beyond that though, the script is pretty hard to beat in terms of sheer quotability and individual scenes that are gut-bustingly funny. Taken on the whole, Spinal Tap is pretty funny stuff.

The film transpires as filmmaker Marti DiBergi (played by director Rob Reiner) attempts to form a documentary about one of the world's most popular (at one point in time) metal bands while they are touring through the US in 1982. The band in question: Spinal Tap, composed of lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), as well as a number of drummers, many of whom have died under circumstances such as spontaneous combustion, a bizarre gardening accident, and choking on vomit that may or may not have been his own (which leads to one of the greatest lines ever in film: "you can't really dust for vomit"). At one point in time, Spinal Tap was one of the most prominent and popular rock bands in the world. Recently though, the British rockers have been relegated to concerts that are a fraction of the size of those they headlined in their heyday. Searching for ways to renew their popularity, and just plain trying to keep the rock alive, the band tries to stick together as inner-turmoil and outside influences take their toll and their relationships become increasingly strained.

Make no mistake about it, Spinal Tap is a comedy, through-and-through. However, while the subject matter is typically aimed at producing as many chuckles as possible, there is a degree of pathos developed within this film for the members of the band. The characters are faced with tough times, and there is a point at the end where genuine sympathy for them is achieved, despite their general stupidity. A more dramatic film could have either been executed with a degree of craft and subtlety and been a high-caliber picture, or it (much more likely) could have embraced numerous clichés typically associated with movies dealing with bands and been instantly forgettable. However, this is not Spinal Tap's goal. The intention here is to exploit the musicians and expose their foolishness, thus commenting on the foolishness of many rock musicians, mostly brought on by the narcissism and feelings of grandeur associated with stardom and popularity. The characters in this movie are caricatures, but they are brilliant caricatures that are instantly enjoyable to watch as well as demanding of pity. Spinal Tap subtly (and not so subtly) pokes fun at such narcissism and feelings of self-importance, as well as the general zaniness often associated with many musicians.

Spinal Tap is a marvel of execution, pitch-perfect scripting, and comic timing. Every scene is virtually perfect; every joke is just obvious enough to be caught but just subtle enough that it rewards paying attention. What's more, no joke is stretched too thin, which is something that amounts to the death of far too many comedies. This isn't crass humor either, although it may initially seem like it; every joke has a purpose, which more often than not is to poke fun at or expose just how bonkers many musicians (or any figures who are accustomed to stardom) can truly be. Obviously, the scene that has most entered the pop culture lexicon is the scene in which guitarist Nigel Tufnel comments on how his amplifiers go up to eleven just to get that extra level of loudness. When Marti DiBergi asks him why he didn't just make ten louder and eliminate the eleven, Nigel responds "These go to eleven". There are numerous other scenes that are equally hilarious though, from Derek Smalls finding himself trapped in a giant cocoon on stage for the duration of a performance, to a hilarious performance of "Stonehenge" complete with an 18 inch statue representing the titular location, to a scene in which the band can't figure out how to deal with grossly undersized bread for their sandwiches and resort to complaining instead.

Ultimately, as much of Spinal Tap's success rests in its three leads as in the script. McKean, Guest, and Shearer are the ones that truly bring St. Hubbins, Tufnel, and Smalls to life. Their performances highlight just how crazy these three guys are and how much they enjoy reveling in their own lunacy. Their earnest performances give these characters life, and their narcissism and idiocy seems honest as opposed to obligatory or phony. More importantly, their comic timing brings the script to life much in the same way as the comic timing of the Monty Python crew brought their scripts to life. Each has their share of memorable moments, with Nigel possibly having the most due to his more fiery personality. David and Derek are more laid-back, by comparison. In fact, it is best put by Derek himself when he states that he is the luke-warm water to Nigel's fire and David's ice.

This is Spinal Tap is simply one of the funniest movies ever made, and easily one of my top five comedies. It has a sharp, witty script peppered with hilarious lines of dialogue that attack the personalities of many musicians while inciting laughter, it has three top-notch comic performances, and it has a unique presentation that truly adds to the overall feel of the film. It gives a feel of freshness to the proceedings, even on repeat viewings to individuals that can already recite lines of dialogue while watching the film. Despite viciously attacking the figures of rock & roll on many occasions, it also embraces the rock n' roll spirit and creates a hilarious experience by honoring rock simultaneously as it chastises it. Spinal Tap has a light, warm touch that makes it infinitely appealing, but it has a clever, pointed script that results in a truly lasting and ultimately brilliant experience.

Rating: 10/10.