This Is Spinal Tap Reviews | RateItAll

This Is Spinal Tap

1984 American mockumentary film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner (in his feature directorial debut) Website

Approval Rate: 69%

69%Approval ratio

Reviews 45

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  • by

    medgarevers

    Tue Nov 10 2009

    Many stretches of boringness. Then again, Harry Shearer rocks. Christopher Guest can master any role. And they poked great fun at heavy metal, theatrical arena rock, 60's garage rock ("Gimme Some Money"), and 60's psychedelia ("Listen to the Flower People"). "Spinal Tap" had some amusing scenes.

  • by

    susanyschoono_ver

    Sun Jun 07 2009

    THIS IS SPINAL TAP has to be one of if not the funniest parody movies ever made. Heavy metal music (especially when its performers and fans take it too seriously) is inherent with ridiculous elements that seem made to be spoofed. Director Rob Reiner (who appears in the film as documentary maker Marty) and actors Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer playing the three lead musicians in Spinal Tap capitalize on the silliness and take it to outrageous and hilarious lengths with their pitch perfect deadpan deliveries. Packed with funny one liners this film can be watched multiple times without losing enjoyment.

  • by

    astromike

    Tue May 12 2009

    Has a cult following. Not my cup of tea.

  • by

    gris2575

    Tue May 12 2009

    Cult Classic.

  • by

    robertthompson_657

    Mon May 04 2009

    I was pretty hyped about this movie before I rented it. While it's nowhere near the comedy masterpiece some people make it out to be I did really enjoy it. Some people say it's metal but the music is really just glam rock, a bad Kiss ripoff at it's peak. I know the music is all just a joke, but if you're going to make us listen to it please make it at least passable. Luckily the music isn't the center of the movie. The acting is pretty solid all around, and very convincing. The real highlight of the movie for me was the band discussions, it's completely hilarious. The dialogue is just priceless, who cannot forget the now famous line, "None more blacker". I also love the scene where the band is playing and they come out of there pods but the bassist is stuck in there for the entire song. It's also pretty faithful to how things actually happen in the music industry, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth stated in an interview that Spinal Tap was sadly very close to how real band life was. If the mus... Read more

  • by

    alansmithee707_9

    Sat Apr 25 2009

    I've been a fan of Spinal Tap since they went under the name of The (New) Originals. After the tragic gardening death of their first drummer, John "Stumpy" Pepys, Tap tapped Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs to fill the fills and thus began their journey of reputation as England's loudest band. I remember when they opened for Deep Purple in 1972, Ritchie Blackmore, watching backstage, was so intimidated by them that he locked himself in a bathroom for the rest of the night and his band had to soldier on playing a two hour show without him. Spinal Tap were kicked off the bill after one gig. While I thought Brainhammer and Nerve Damage provided Spinal Tap adequate "practice" to become a full-fledged heavy metal outfit, they really came into their own with the release of Blood To Let. I remember my buddy bringing his new Master Of Reality LP over to my house one day and I laughed at Sabbath's feeble attempt at heaviness. I took his silly record off the turntable, broke it in half, plunked Bloo... Read more

  • by

    lcopas

    Fri Apr 10 2009

    A look on how it might be to be a big rock star on a funny side.

  • by

    brandon4334

    Sun Mar 22 2009

    David, Nigel and Derek - the holy trinity of rock, the founding members of England's loudest band, the poets behind "Big Bottom" and "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" - are the subjects of the first and still the best mock/rockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap" (a film by Marty Dibergi/Rob Reiner). Following the band on their first U.S. tour in over five years, Dibergi goes where no other filmmaker has gone before - deep inside Tap's history, exploring the lean years ("Gimmie Some Money"), the innocent years ("Cups and Cakes"), the psychedelic years ("(Listen to the) Flower People"), the monolith years ("Stonehenge") and the then-present years ("Hell Hole") - while paying respect to all the fallen drummers (R.I.P.) in-between. It's a cross-country roller coaster ride you will never forget. So sit back, relax, turn the volume up to 11, and experience all "the sights, the sounds [and] the smells of a hard-working rock band on the road." While you're at it, mark you calendars for July 14... Read more

  • by

    jedi58

    Wed Jan 14 2009

    This one goes to 11.

  • by

    caroline112

    Mon Dec 29 2008

    am i the only one who never wants to see that again

  • by

    the_masked_cracka

    Tue Aug 19 2008

    BEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • by

    tiredofevry1

    Mon Jul 14 2008

    Not on the list.

  • by

    kuiana

    Mon Jul 14 2008

    never seen

  • by

    jennifer845

    Tue Jul 08 2008

    It gets funnier every time I see it. "You can't dust for vomit."

  • by

    jmshockey021

    Fri Jul 04 2008

    Shitty Just like Chris Gaines

  • by

    caleb983

    Wed Jun 25 2008

    Some of the coolest movie quotes ever come from this one! I loved it!

  • by

    oo_michelle_oo

    Wed Jun 18 2008

    LOVE this movie!

  • by

    jack_azz

    Tue Jun 17 2008

    Sounds Gay

  • by

    amy919

    Sat Jun 14 2008

    never heard of it

  • by

    myspace_162525219

    Fri Jun 13 2008

    Never saw the movie I did hear that this was a good movie though But I had to pick a rating.....stupid

  • by

    desiderium_in_carmen

    Sun Jun 08 2008

    Our stonehenge was in danger of being toppled by a DWARF!

  • by

    wkuk69

    Sat Jun 07 2008

    a classic, so many quotable lines

  • by

    dave407

    Fri Jun 06 2008

    Crank it to 11!!!

  • by

    myspace_7773557

    Sun Jun 01 2008

    mine goes to 11

  • by

    myspace_20780446

    Sun Jun 01 2008

    Havent seen this one either

  • by

    cheyenne

    Sat May 31 2008

    huh?

  • by

    genghisthehun

    Sat May 31 2008

    I always liked McKean and ratchet this up a star for his performance.

  • by

    myspace_325979967

    Sat May 31 2008

    But these go to 11. haha great movie.

  • by

    g8rhoo

    Thu May 29 2008

    I've seen this movie but didn't find it to be as epic as everyone else seems to.

  • by

    spike65

    Sun Apr 27 2008

    The best movie this ensemble cast has done so far. Christopher Guest is really great in this film.

  • by

    angryjed

    Sat Dec 01 2007

    what more can be said - the original dig at heavy metal stereotypes is the best. what is more, I actually like some of their rockin' tunes.

  • by

    xagent

    Wed Aug 01 2007

    "It was more of a stain....."

  • by

    numbah16tdhaha

    Wed Aug 01 2007

    "These go to 11..."

  • by

    yogurt

    Sun Jun 17 2007

    I found this movie out right hilarious. I had to rewind the volume to 11 part several times.

  • by

    disgust4pcness

    Thu May 03 2007

    Absolutely brilliant movie that most people just don't get (and I don't mean to sound like some elitist, but it is true)...ranks on top with Office Space in my list of "Movies that Most People Don't Completely Get."  Fortunately, it looks like a lot of people on RateItAll do get it! Lots of funny lines from the movie have been posted here, but here's another: "This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, 'What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that day too?'"

  • by

    bassman44113

    Thu May 03 2007

    One of my favorite movies of all time. I loved it when they got lost from the dressing room to the stage and the janitor had to help them find it. All I have to say is ..... Smell the Glove!

  • by

    canadasucks

    Sat May 13 2006

    Even funnier if you are a musician or know someone who is. . .the "11" speech is still hilarious after all these years.

  • by

    sjchaos

    Fri May 12 2006

    way over-rated (and i'm not a youngin either)

  • by

    ericmk

    Sun Jul 31 2005

    Second best movie of all time (tied for 2nd with A Fish Called Wanda), after Waiting for Guffman.

  • by

    blanconino

    Sun Jan 30 2005

    These go to eleven!

  • by

    sfalconer

    Thu Dec 02 2004

    The Stone Henge scene alone is worth watching this movie, it is hysterical. It shows Christopher Guest at his best a very funny movie with lots of cameos.

  • by

    jjm1965

    Wed Dec 01 2004

    This is a great movie, absolutely hilarious, and if you are a musician (like me), you can relate to at least 1 of the mishaps this band encounters. Everyone involved did their homework in making this mockumentary. After this, I also recommend All You Need Is Cash, which profiles The Rutles (Beatles parody).

  • by

    mad_hatter

    Mon Oct 04 2004

    It goes to 11!

  • by

    frogger20190

    Thu Jul 22 2004

    Still makes me laugh 'til I cry. Christopher Guest is a comic genius. All of his movies are comedy classics.

  • by

    sld31879

    Fri Jul 02 2004

    Just plain great. Makes fun of every mistep made by every rock band from the Clash Mark II to Linda McCartney, and the songs really aren't that bad. Guest's mocumentaries have all been good but none of them ever quite matched this one.