Film: This Is Spinal Tap
Director: Rob Reiner
Country: UK / USA
Released: March 1984
Runtime: 82 minutes
Genre: Comedy (Mockumentary)
Studio: Embassy Pictures
Influenced: Garry Shandling, Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sacha Gervasi, Taika Waititi
Arguably the greatest and most influential mockumentary of all time, This Is Spinal Tap was originally intended as a short sketch for the ABC TV programme, The TV Show, and developed as a concept by the four comedy writers Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner. Together they collaborated to create the characters and band in a film that parodies the rock music industry with a potent mix of sharp wit, clever writing and gloriously silly performances. New York-born Brit Christopher Guest would go on to direct several mockumentary-style films that were heavily influenced by the success of This Is Spinal Tap, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), A Mighty Wind (2003), For Your Consideration (2006) and most notably Best in Show (2000), all with his signature style of ensemble cast, improvised dialogue and satirical take on various different subcultures.
After writing extensive material and creating a full backstory for the band, Guest and the other writers realised there was the potential for a feature-length film focusing on a fictional British heavy metal band called Spinal Tap, consisting of lead vocalist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer). The story revolves around filmmaker Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) who decides to make a documentary about the band's American comeback tour after a period of declining popularity. The film begins with Di Bergi interviewing the band members and giving some background information on their history and influence on rock music.
One of the film's most iconic moments is when Nigel Tufnel shows off his guitar amplifier, which goes up to eleven instead of the standard ten, giving birth to the now popular catchphrase "turn it up to eleven" to signify pushing things to the extreme, whether it's in music, life or other contexts. Some amplifiers and speakers include an "11" setting as a playful nod to the film. My favourite running joke in the film relates to the band's constant drummer troubles, with each drummer they recruit dying in bizarre ways or mysteriously disappearing. Another highlight is the band's performance of a new song called Stonehenge, which becomes a disaster when the prop on stage is much smaller than intended. "What's wrong with being sexy?" is one of my favourite comedy one-liners in all of film history.
This Is Spinal Tap won instant critical plaudits, while at the same time popularising the mockumentary genre, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, and fooling some audiences into believing that Spinal Tap was a real band. The film captures so perfectly the absurdities and clichés of the hair rock and metal genres, from the outlandish stage shows to the pompous male posturing. Many real-life rock musicians have expressed their love for the film, with some even mentioning that it accurately reflects their own experiences in the industry. This Is Spinal Tap has also inspired countless other mockumentary-style films and TV shows, from The Office to Parks & Recreation, leaving a lasting impact on the world of comedy.
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