Vote on this title
Click on a gene to vote or discover related titles.
-
Mood:
- HumorousWittyCynicalCleverOffbeat
-
Plot:
- Music BandMusician's LifeShowbizArtists and ShowbizLifestylePartnersFriendsDisorder more...
-
Genres:
- ComedyMusicIndependentMockumentary
-
Time/Period:
- 20th Century80s
-
Praise:
- Award WinnerCritically AcclaimedCultOriginal
-
Humor:
- SatireIrreverent HumorDry Humor
-
Attitudes:
- Not SeriousRealistic
-
Score:
- Heavy MetalRock
-
Flag:
- Profanity
Does this gene fit This Is Spinal Tap?
Find it on:
| IMDb | |
| Rotten Tomatoes |
This Is Spinal Tap, 1984
English
USA
Profile of This Is Spinal Tap
The mood of This Is Spinal Tap is cynical, witty, and humorous. The plot centers around a music band, showbiz, and partners. It features satire and irreverent humor. This Is Spinal Tap is a comedy and independent movie. Stylistically, it is a mockumentary. In approach, it is not serious and realistic. This Is Spinal Tap happens in the 1980s. The musical score is heavy metal and rock. The movie is known for being a cult favorite, original, and an award winner. Note that This Is Spinal Tap includes profanity.
Summary of This Is Spinal Tap
A brilliant and hilarious documentary-style satire of a has-been British heavy metal band who never really was on an absurd American comeback tour that never quite gets off the ground, This Is Spinal Tap practically birthed the mockumentary style. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer are David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls, respectively--three clueless, self-absorbed men who form the nucleus of Spinal Tap, aging purveyors of overwrought songs with titles such as "Big Bottom," "Smell the Glove," and "Sex Farm." Shot in faux cinema verité-style with director Rob Reiner as fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi, the film lampoons just about every rock & roll cliché (not to mention every rockumentary cliché) in the book as it follows these fallen rock idols from one disastrous gig to the next. Scenes of the tour's descent from desperation into total collapse are interspersed with interviews in which the band members delightfully prattle on inanely about the none-too-illustrious history and dubious vision of Spinal Tap. This Is Spinal Tap is a striking and acutely hysterical directorial debut for Reiner and a deserved cult classic. Watch for an endless array of cameos by wonderful comic character actors along the way.
Details
| Language: | English |
| Country: | USA |
| Release date: | 2 March 1984 |
| Runtime: | 82 min |
Cast and Crew
as David St. Hubbins
as Nigel Tufnel
as Derek Smalls
Photos
Clips
Critics Reviews
Variety
- |
- by: Staff (not credited)
Salon.com
- |
- by: Stephanie Zacharek
Users Reviews
- 28.March.2011
- |
- by: Yoann
- Yoann rated this movie
9/10Amazing
- 08.August.2008
- |
- by: fletcher.munson
- fletcher.munson rated this movie8/10Great
