Director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) solemnly alerts us to the glory that was Spinal Tap in his introduction to this "rockumentary" about the legendary British heavy-metal group, featuring lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), and a succession of drummers whose careers were cut short by spontaneously combusting on their stool, drowning in somebody else's vomit, or otherwise perishing in untimely fashion. Under DiBergi's studious interrogation, the band and their familiars retrace the band's evolution from head-bopping Mersey Beat poseurs to head-banging metal poseurs, each change in musical direction or tonsorial chic having little effect on the surviving trio's sublime idiocy. For, as St. Hubbins (he's the "deep" one, relatively speaking) sagely observes, "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

There oughta be a law....

I also love rock music, and all the associated trappings. There's not a genre of rock-n-roll that doesn't have SOMETHING that appeals to me.

I love satire. I love cleverly done satire. Satire generally requires more creativity than simple parody (Weird Al being the exception, of course). I realize that many people use the words "satire" and "parody" synonymously, but they are two different things.

Now, combine those two things I love (rock and satire), do it well, and you have one of the best-performed, dry-humored, and dead-on comedies ever made! And that's really the only way I can think of to describe this movie.

Why did I title my review "There oughta be a law...?" Because I've often said that there ought to be a law in place requiring that every rock group watch this movie...just so they can see how utterly self-important and ridiculous they sound when they take themselves too seriously. Maybe if they see this film, their sides will split open from laughter, and their oversized egos will deflate.

On Amazon's scale of 1 to 5, I give "This Is Spinal Tap" an 11.

The greatest movie about rock music ever made

This is Spinal Tap is directed by Rob Reiner. The film stars Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer. Co-stars include Fran Drescher, Dana Carvey, Billy Crystal, Paul Shaffer, and Anjelica Huston.

This is Spinal Tap is a mock documentary by filmmaker Marty DeBergi (Reiner) that follows the 1982 American tour of the British band Spinal Tap (Guest/McKean/Shearer,) who has existed since the sixties and undergone numerous negative reviews for their music, not to mention several of their drummers dying in mysterious accidents - ranging from everything from spontaneously combusting on stage, choking on someone else's vomit, and a bizarre gardening accident. The band's fanbase is diminishing, and there have been numerous show cancellations across the states. Things aren't helped by the fact that record stores are refusing to stock the band's latest album due to an explicit album cover photo. The film chronicles the band's tour, their performances (which usually have something go wrong on stage,) and their hardships on the road.

The greatest film ever made about rock music. Ever. From start to finish, Reiner paints an incredible picture of a believable band on the road, and the obstacles they must face - ranging from everything to arguments over creative control over the band, right down to theatrics on stage that go awry in the midst of a performance. As a huge rock music fan myself, I admit, I am a bit prejudiced here. But Reiner's satirical view of the world of rock and roll is one that won me over. Do you like rock music? Wacky song lyrics? Concerts with over-the-top theatrics (that usually go horribly wrong?) Entertaining characters? Do you like to laugh? If you answered yes to any of the aforementioned questions, this is your film.

Rob Reiner directs the film, and stars as Marty DeBergi, the documentary filmmaker chronicling the band's tour. As the band's tour progresses, DeBergi is always there, interviewing the band members, getting into their heads. His interviews and questions for the band make for a nice break between the concert sets and drama - and really help the viewer delve into the past of this (fictional) band. In fact, Reiner fills the documentary filmmaker character role so well, that when the film was released, numerous critics and moviegoers alike thought it was a REAL documentary!

Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean star as the fictional band that is, obviously, the film's main subject. They play these roles perfectly, and their over-the-top performances, mock British accents, and theatrics had me in stitches from start to finish. One of the major complaints people had about the film when it was first released is that the documentary "should have been made about a better-known band." You heard right. These guys play their roles so nicely, people thought they were a real band!

However, to be totally honest, the actors from the film DID actually know how to play, and they even did make a few live performances under the Spinal Tap moniker. So, in a way, they actually were a real band.

The supporting cast can't be overlooked either. Dana Carvey and Billy Crystal both have a brief-but-memorable appearance as mime waiters (and NO, that isn't a misprint!) Every member of the supporting cast roster contributes something to the overall quality of the film, no matter how small or limited their role.

Of course, no review of This Is Spinal Tap would be complete without mentioning its greatest asset - the music. The film features a variety of interesting tunes by the band, spanning some radically different sounds. The film's songs include Big Bottom - an ode to an obese woman, Stonehenge - an over-the-top piece of theatrical dungeons-and-dragons themed rock, Sex Farm - an innuendo-laden hard rock tune, Flower People, a parody/tribute of the melodic, psychedelic hippie music of the sixties, and Gimme Some Money, a British Invasion-flavored tune. Despite the often downright silly lyrics, the music here is VERY well done - better than people give it credit for being. As an Amazon editorial review for the soundtrack album once stated, one of the film's greatest ironies is that its pieces of music are often superior the music being parodied. If you liked the film, I also strongly recommend picking up a copy of the soundtrack album.

Rock music and the movies are a hit-and-miss combination, but This Is Spinal Tap is a success in every area. Despite the film's poor box office performance, it didn't take long after its home video release to build up a cult following. And when you watch the film for yourself, it won't be hard at all to see why. Rock and roll fans with a sense of humor - your ship has come in.

Thumbs WAY up!

Best version available for a classic

Great idea, amazing writing and stellar acting. Christoper Guest should have gotten an academy award for the work he did. I just look at him in this movie and start laughing. This has all the extras that you could want.

Hard to believe that the Stonehenge segment was actually based on a Black Sabbath story where the set was supposed to be in feet and the builder thought the numbers were in meters so the set was three times as large as it should have been.

Highly recommended for baby boomer, rock fans. Others might not "get it".