So much of what happens in this film reeks of This is Spinal Tap that you almost have to laugh at how absurd parts of it are. Tour run by band member's girlfriend? Check. Gigs played in front of a crowd of about five people? Check. Founding members getting in ruts that almost spell the end of the band? Check. Ending with a comeback gig in Japan? Check. Only, unlike Spinal Tap, Anvil are legit, were destined for big things and, for some reason or another, never made the big time.
With thirteen albums to their name you'd think otherwise yet, as we first meet lead singer Lips, we see the dreams has never come for them. Working for a catering business for local schools, he couldn't be any further from the rock star he set out to be in the 80's. The sheer determination he has in getting Anvil off the ground (something he and fellow founder Rob Reiner (seriously?) have been trying to do for well over twenty years) is both admirable and sad and, for the most part you don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for them, which is a shame as their music is far better than some of the recent tripe found in the American metal scene.
As a rockumentary, the subject makes for a more compelling watch than, say, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (although that is still excellent). As a no holds barred look at desperate aging rock stars, it's a belter. I may even consider buying some of their music in future.
4.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment