Black & White World

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Before I begin my review, I feel it is my duty to let you all know that one of the plot keywords listed on IMDB with This is Spinal Tap is “cucumber.” Spinal Tap is the #1 ranked film on IMDB associated with the plot keyword “cucumber” (following along behind it are several volumes of Veggie Tales, Gosford Park, and others).

There was a time there when Rob Reiner was listed among my favorite directors, and Spinal Tap was a big reason (Princess Bride and Stand By Me were two others).  Then came North, and everything went to hell in a handbasket after that.  I don’t think he’s made one good movie since then (although my Dad is a huge fan of An American President).  Meanwhile, the Spinal Tap writing team went off on their own and have turned “mockumentary” into their own genre with Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.  But it all started here with this story of the world’s loudest band.

All the performances are great, but I have to put in a special word of praise for Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel.  My favorite scene is when they’re in Cleveland, wandering around the lower depths of the concert hall trying to find their way to the stage.  Every time Nigel passes the camera, he makes a “rock ‘n’ roll” face with his tongue stuck out, and each time it dissolves me to hysterics.  It’s something you see Poison and Motley Crue do in their “Behind the Music” specials without a trace of irony, probably not even realizing that Guest was spoofing them before they even broke the top 40.

Nigel also has my favorite line in the movie, which is that the tender piano ballad he’s working on is entitled “Lick My Love Pump.”

Postscript:  Spinal Tap was a consolation prize.  My friend Scott and I were supposed to attend the opening night of the Mods & Rockers festival at the American Cinematheque, with a Beatles/Stones double feature.  It was sold out!  We headed back to his place to watch some Beatle-y thing or other on his new flat screen TV, and passed a dude on the street who was the exact spitting image of Nigel Tufnel.  Scott looked at me and murmured, “These go to eleven,” and I replied “Lick my love pump,” then exclaimed, “That’s it, Dude!  Let’s watch Spinal Tap!” Rather than Mods or Rockers, we had our own little “Mockers” festival.

1. Fuck the napkin!

   Posted by  on  07/15  at  12:47 AM

2. To me, this movie suffers from the “I Love Lucy” syndrome. Lucy was groundbreaking and innovative when new, but has been copied to death so many times I can’t watch it now. It seems tired, not bcause it’s less funny, but because of the influence on the hundreds of shows since. I’m weary of it.

   Mockumentary is a film staple now. I just ran across one called “Never Been Thawed” about a TV dinner contest. I’m tired of them.

   None of this should take away the innovation Spinal Tap had, but it does. I guess it was too successful and influential. I have trouble watching any of them now.

   Posted by Duke  on  07/15  at  05:35 PM
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