I was reading an interesting book about Agile, by my colleague Julien Deray, which bears the title How I planned my wedding with Scrum. In the intro of this book, Julien mentions the iconic expression "up to eleven" and explains it comes from a cult movie called This Is Spinal Tap! The moment I closed the book, I thought I had to watch this movie...!
I'm sure many of you are into those movies which look like documentaries, though they're telling a fictional story. You know, those films often narrated by the director, with interviews, “back-stage” and “unexpected” events that happen right when the director is filming them.
The so called mockumentaries are exploited largely by the horror genre. It's an effective way to make scary events look more authentic and give our subconscious that eerie feeling to wonder, “Was it real? Can it really happen?”. However, the mockumentary line didn't begin with a horror, but with a comedy; a musical comedy to be precise. This Is Spinal Tap is more a precursor of Borat rather than The Ring. If you are into rock music, you must watch This Is Spinal Tap! To quote Nirvana members, This Is Spinal Tap is the only good rock "documentary" ever made. The legacy of this movie is larger than life. It's the most real parody ever shown on screen. You'll hear so many bands exclaiming, "Wow! This is us!"
This fictional band is the embodiment of the pure hard n heavy theatre rock of the 1980s. Well if not pure, epic and entertaining for sure!
“Big bottom, big bottom Talk about mud flaps, my girl's got 'em Big bottom drive me out of my mind How could I leave this behind?”
No, we can't leave this behind. You must know that though the band is fictional, Spinal Tap released a real album, in the real world. The mockumentary tells us that Smell The Glove was bound to be released with an outrageous, provocative cover, but the labels deemed it sexist. When the shocking news is shared with the band, Nigel Tufnel asks, “What's wrong with being sexy?”
Spinal Tap manager, Ian, solves this issue with an art stunt. Smell The Glove got released with a fully black cover! Ian got less effective when he ordered the choreography set for Spinal Tap's American tour. One of the most impressive tracks of the band, Stonehenge, was performed with an 18” megalith to which even dwarfs look giant beside.
I love every single element of Spinal Tap's choreography. It's majestic and hilarious at the same time! The giant horned skull, the "mini-lith", and the eggs from which the band's members get out, with the exception of Derek the guitarist, who remains stuck in for the full intro song! Hahah!
Yeah OK, too much of a spoiler, but it's worth it! Just take my hand... We'll go back in time to that mystic land. Where the dew drops cry and the cats meow. I will take you there, I will show you how... Show you how to pack the first mockumentary in history and one of the most hilarious films ever! There is no particular flow, yet everything falls into the right place. You will see all the clichés that could affect a rock band from the '80s; dissolute life, tons of makeup, extravagant demands, groupies, arrogant wives, lavish parties, dead drummers and tensions between members.
I don't want to spoil too much, but don't expect a structured story. Most of the dialogues are improvised, which is great, because it all makes the reactions more natural, hence more hilarious.
This wants to be a documentary, not a novel. This Is Spinal Tap! Fun up to eleven!
Rate 9/10
