This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

 

This might very well be my favourite comedy of all time. Heck, it's probably one of the best - if not the best - spoof out there. And you know what makes this one even better?

If you're a musician yourself. 

That isn't to say you can't enjoy this as a non-musician, because you can, but several of the situations depicted here are rather on the nose concerning stuff that can and does happen when you play in a band, even on a much smaller scale and lower level. 

Also also: this film is so ridiculously quotable, it's almost criminal. Literally every line of dialogue is insanely quotable. And memorable to boot. 

Presented as a documentary, this film follows the exploits of British hard rockband Spinal Tap as they embark on a tour of the US to promote their latest album 'Smell the Glove'. But things don't go as they should, as Tap's popularity is waning a little and they are burdened by a rather incompetent manager. He talks the talk, but cancellations soon follow and the record itself isn't available when they set off. It gets even worse when they find out the artwork is banned and it's replaced by an all black cover. 

Yes, that's where Metallica got the idea from. You can't change my mind.

As if that wasn't enough, tensions in the band soar to an all time high when frontman David St Hubbins' girlfriend joins them on tour, clearly not to the liking of David's partner in crime Nigel Tufnell. Soon Nigel departs and thanks to David's girlfriend basing everything on starsigns, they are forced to play to fewer and fewer crowds and in shittier locations. 

Along the way, you get classics like complaining about backstage food, losing the way while heading to the stage, exploding drummers, crap stageprops: the works. 

You know what's the best part? All involved play their role so wonderfully. Everything is deadpan straight, even if the situations sometimes seem completely over the top. But the reality is: they're not, which makes it all the more hilarious. The almost improvisational acting is the icing on the cake, as our leads truly become the characters and you don't doubt it for a second. This is the film's greatest strength: it all looks and feels absolutely honest and real. 

It isn't, of course.

The dialogue is a big part of what makes it all work: it's spontaneous, extremely well-written and I dare you not to remember at least several lines after even one viewing. Give it a while and you will be able to literally quote the entire film from start to finish. It's just thàt good. Sure, everybody knows the "These go to eleven.", but that is just one of the classic lines. 

My favourite has always been right after the big blowout between David and Nigel when Nigel left, and David is saying to the director that he doesn't care. The director doesn't believe him, as David and Nigel have been childhood friends, so David calmly replies: "I'm sure I would feel a lot worse if I wasn't this heavily sedated." 

Genius. Pure, unadulterated genius.

And to top it all off: their songs are pretty good and all written and performed by the actors themselves! Oh, and you'll wet your trousers laughing if you pay attention to the lyrics. Trust me. 

This is an absolute blast from start to finish and I heartily recommend it to all. It's not just a great comedy, it's a great film.

By the way: the actors even did a commentarytrack for the dvd, in character. I suggest you check that out as well. It is sidesplitting.