This Is Spinal Tap

This Is Spinal Tap
March 2, 1984
Embassy Pictures
Comedy, Musical
DVD
B+

This mockumentary/rockumentary is primarily the work of four men: director Rob Reiner, and bandmates Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer.  That's not to say that others didn't contribute (the guest cast, not all of whom I mention later, are all solid), but that is the team who is mostly responsible for the humor and poignancy.  The movie holds up very well after thirty years; in fact, it's probably a bit funnier now because Heavy Metal, and the '80s in general, are funnier at a distance.  The movie is full of quotes you've heard (e.g. "It goes up to eleven"), but it still feels fresh.  The music, especially the '60s tunes, is actually quite good, even with silly lyrics.

What struck me most this time was the strained but never fully broken friendship between the McKean and Guest characters.  Shearer comes close to stealing his scenes, but he's mostly there as a balance, the "lukewarm" between their "fire and ice."  And Reiner does well as both directors, real and film-within-film.  If TIST is not quite in the upper tier of my movies, it may be that it shares a fault with another mockumentary, Zelig, in keeping the viewer at a distance.  Also, the "girlfriend ruining the group" motif is a little too much like Yoko-hate, even if she's blonde and British rather than Asian.  Still, definitely worth repeat viewings, and the in-character DVD commentary is brilliant.

Perhaps not coincidentally, some folks who were in Americathon appear here: Zane Buzby as Rolling Stone Reporter, Howard Hesseman as Terry Ladd, and Fred Willard as Colonel on Military Base.

Charles Levin, the Disc 'n' Dat Manager, was Alvy's stage counterpart in Annie Hall.  Robin Menken, who was Maddy in Thank God It's Friday, is Angelo's assistant here.  Blackie Lawless, who's Commercial Headbanger here, stood out more as Metal Guy with Leash at Audition in Can't Stop the Music.  Archie Hahn, who plays the queeny Room Service Guy, would shortly have a dual role in Meatballs Part II.  

Billy Crystal, who worked with Guest on Saturday Night Live, has a small role as Morty the Mime.  Another SNLer (although then future), 28-year-old Dana Carvey, is a mime waiter.  And, yes, that's a 34-year-old Ed Begley, Jr. as the first of many Tap drummers.

Despite themselves, they are actually sexy as well as sexist.