Saw 'Anvil: The Story of Anvil' last night on DVD. For those not familiar with it, it's a documentary about a Canadian heavy metal band who had minor success in the 80s but keep plodding on, working routine day jobs to fund their dream of maybe making it big again one day. In many ways it's a buddy film, focussing on the complex and co-dependent relationship between the lead singer and drummer. It's also about dreams, and the refusal to let them go despite no real promise of success.
But let's deal with the obvious point: it's Spinal Tap. The band have had various line-up changes (but no exploding drummers). They were once succesful, sharing the bill and paving the way for the heavyweights of 80s thrash metal. They're not really very good. They play to disappointingly small crowds in big venues. They argue a lot. They acquire a hopeless female manager who is attached to the guitarist. Their music sounds uncannily like Tap. They have inexplicable success in Japan. The drummer is called Robb Reiner. They argue a lot but love each other really. They come out with statements of unbelievable yet believable stupidity.
All the above make it difficult to believe this is a real documentary and I think the Spinal Tap comparisons are played up to, deliberately setting out to confuse the viewer as to whether this a spoof. Like Tap, it's very funny and yet has moments of deep poignancy. I was reminded also of The Wrestler, in the protrayal of people whose best days were brief and long behind them but they just can't let go. The ultimate triumph of this film is that, despite all their flaws (the quality of the music being the biggest one), you can't help but wish the band the success that eludes them for so long.
11/10 
