Fellman's Movie Reviews

“This Is Spinal Tap” was the first of its kind. Fake camera crew, fake band, fake story, fake everything. It was just real enough to make you believe it was possible. If you didn’t know it was fake, you might actually believe it. It was the forebearer of what would come to be the “mockumentary” genre” of film and television. Award winning movies like “A Mighty Wind” and “Best In Show”, which were also directed by and starred Christopher Guest, are descendants of this one brilliant comedy. 

Television shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation”, which were on TV for well over a decade before they ended their run, making the stars of their shows household names are the result of the format that “This Is Spinal Tap” created. A single movie, spawning so many ideas, that it created almost half a century worth of award winning content can only be called “legendary”. 

And it was, at the time. Every rock star and musician that saw the movie called Rob Reiner and the other stars of the film to tell them about the experiences in the film that they had that were reminiscent of some of the scenes the characters had gone through. Like getting lost backstage, or equipment failing in the middle of a performance. Every musician was telling a story about how it had happened to them at least once in their career and how they could relate. 

But you don’t have to be a rock star to appreciate “This Is Spinal Tap”. It’s not made for rock stars. It’s made for us simple folk. The fans. It’s made so we can appreciate how complicated life is to be a rock star, and how hard they have it.  

So, yeah, go and see This Is Spinal Tap. It’s one of the greatest comedy movies ever made. One of those “must see” films that you really need to have a reference of. But more than that, it’s just plain funny. So, sit back, relax, and turn your speakers up to 11. And as always, keep on watching, with a smile on your face…