After 1984's heavy-metal satire This Is Spinal Tap started the mockumentary craze, most documentary makers pandered to audiences through sarcasm and propaganda. But the true-life heavy-metal Anvil finally -- beautifully -- restores the genre.

Actually quite a touching story about suffering for your art, even if the art in question is a shade ludicrous.

Essentially a rock band version of American Movie, centering around extremely lovable characters, with an unimaginable wealth of heart and dedication, who, although they are not without talent, are decidedly sub-par in their abilities.

Like in "American Movie," the work these artists is doing is almost irrelevant; what's so compelling & touching is their sincere devotion to it. Also like AM, there are numerous scenes that seem too good/funny to be real... yet they are.

Der er nogen der bare altid taber...Anvil synes at være nogen af dem...

Sad. I found myself pulling for these (let's face it - by now) mildly delusional dudes. Appropriate "happy" ending with their Japanese gig - couldn't be more bittersweet.

so honest

Spinal Tap, 20 years later and real. Not as funny but a whole lot more depressing.

What starts off as what I first thought to be a mockumentary and a possible sequel to 'Spinal Tap'' quickly turns out to be very real and one of the best documentaries in years.

What surprises the unsuspecting viewer of this documentary is that, after a while, the band members turn out to be neither obnoxious nor unlikable, nor even particularly unintelligent. In short, they come across as human beings, holding on rather too tightly to fading dreams, perhaps, yet at least wanting to live their lives as an invention, however improbable, without for all that giving up on the need to also live to some extent in the real world. Which amounts to a genuine problem.

I just fell in love. In love with Robb, Lips and Anvil! So close to hitting it big in the 80´s, but yet so far away. Nonetheless, 35 years later, they are still rocking. Literally! Anvil is much more than just the story of a "we almost made it band", it is a story about spirit, believing in yourself, positivity, not giving up and last, but not the least, about the wonderful lifelong friendship between two guys who just wants to rock n´ roll! Thank you Anvil, for sticking around!

My "FAKE" radar went off all over the place. I believe it's a true story and a great one too after a little help directing the flow of it in certain directions. Still, I loved it!

"A European tour fraught with shady venue owners, missed trains and in-fighting, and subsequent efforts to record their 13th studio album are misadventures that a less compassionate filmmaker might have wrung for cheap Spinal Tap-ish humor." - Nick Schager

metal on metal

Everyone says it's Spinal Tap for real, and it pretty much is, though there's more to it than that. Early-80s heavy metal also-rans Anvil are still going at it 25 years later, and despite utter lack of success they refuse to accept that it's not just over, it never even really started. "We've been doing this since we were 14 years old, now we're in our 50s... We're gonna be rock stars!" And they really believe it so much you just want them to succeed, if only for one goddamn night in Japan.

Metal has never felt softer.

It's like knowing you are going to get punched in the stomach, and then getting punched in the stomach, over and over again.

Just watch it.

American Movie comparisons are apt but not entirely accurate. Mark Borchardt is a more tragic figure who you want to succeed even though you're laughing uncontrollably at his failures. Here, these men carry with them a certain sincerity that paints the tragedy that often befalls them in a far darker tone. There are some tear-jerking emotional moments from these guys that express their touching devotion and kindness in a way that almost makes you regret the fact that you've never heard of them.

What I learned from this movie: Between Anvil and Jesse and the Rippers, the Japanese have questionable taste in music.

A depressing look at dedicating ones life to a fight impossible to win. It doesn't matter if you like metal or hate it, emotions of this film are universal. Even though it tells that hard work doesn't always pay off, you can't but admire the dedication to a dream that will never come true.

A great insight to the after-life of a main line rock band as they persist in trying to make it on to the big stage again. Along with 'Dig!' this is probably one of the best Rockumentries I've seen.

This is the saddest Rock documentary ever! It's kind of inspiring the way they just carry on, with what could of been one of the leading frontmen in metal now working for a catering company, still finding time to be in a heavy metal band in his 50's. There was a lot of everything in this movie, it was depressing, funny, inspiring. I great ending too, we were all rooting for them.

This isn't Spinal Tap. Although that's its reputation. And it's easy to see why people would say that, because the ending is EXACTLY the same. But that's a coincidence. It's actually fairly heartfelt and emotional. Yeah, the lead singer is kind of pathetic, but we never look at him from an ironic or comedic point of view. Or rather I never did. Anyways. Voltaire called optimism cruel, cold inertia. Lips suffers from too much optimism. That's why Anvil is still touring. Just sayin'.

As many already have noted, the parallels to Spinal Tap are many (From one amplifier going to 11, right down to the drummer being named Robb Reiner!), and the band-members are as close to "over-the hill 80s rocker" caricatures as humanly possible. But rather than ridicule the documentary manages to capture a poignant and moving struggle against all odds, to realize a lifelong dream. which is much more about the journey than the destination.

-"maybe i'll just jump off a cliff or something and get done with it, I DON'T KNOW" -"you ain't gonna jump off any cliff, 'cause i will stop you buddy". *awkward silence*

There are numerous references, some clearly intentional and some coincidental (like the drummer), to Spinal Tap in here. So if you watch it blind, you don't know whether it's a documentary or mockumentary. And I guess, in the end, that this winds up being a reflection on the band itself: their careers and lives are straddling reality and fiction.

Can't remember the last documentary that had me dreading the end, watching it through laced fingers, rooting for the heroes but almost certain they were headed to their doom. Br00tal. Yes, there are nods to THIS IS SPINAL TAP but this one has more in common with AMERICAN MOVIE.

I thought I was going to hate this given that I'm so not a fan of metal and don't LOVE band documentaries...but I didn't. On one hand, it's pretty sad because Anvil really hasn't moved on from their 15 minutes of fame in the 80s and are still holding out all hope that they can get it back. On the other, they are so proud of what they've accomplished, with or without the fame and how can you not love that? Lips is a pretty captivating person and makes for a good documentary subject.

Similar in spirit to 'The Wrestler' and, like Rourke's character, these people will stay with you. Both films are about sticking to lifelong dreams when time has suddenly flown by and this remarkably focused portrayal of a band which, despite decades of complete dedication, has never been blessed with success pulls you in and makes you truly root for them. "Everything changes into something else" Lips says and his optimism, the friendship with Robb and their perseverance are touchingly conveyed.

emotionally fueled with interesting characters...nice doc.

If you can get past the music (not my cup of tea) and their manner or dress (50-somethings dressing as teenage outcasts), you're left with a real life underdog story where the protagonists could not be any more out of step with what's "cool" in today's youth culture...and they could not care any less about it; they're just doing what they love for as long as they can. Reiner and Lips' violent blowouts and teary reconciliations show that there's a lot more to these guys than meets the eye.

This movie shows the metal/rock spirit in a great way. You just kind of like those guys and want them to succeed, even if they are huge man-children.

Others here have mentioned comparisons to both This is Spinal Tap and The Wrestler, and I'd have to agree that it definitely feels like a combination of the two, but it fails to reach any of the high points accomplished by those films. It's still a pretty touching story, and at the least, I'd recommend it to any metal fan. "METAL... ON METAL!"

funny thing is i always thought anvil were a bit overrated in the underground irrespective of their influence. but anyway, midway through we find that a painting of rob reiner's anvil drum kit hangs on his wall - he 'painted himself out' of the picture because he wanted to show what will be left behind after he's gone. that scene summarises the way the film occasionally extends a little way past the sentimental underdog formula towards real wrestler-esque poignancy.

I wanted to laugh these guys off, but I just couldn't. Their story is touching and despite their off-beat and sometimes misguided nature I couldn't help rooting for Anvil - the hair-metal band stuck in the eighties. I loved them for their brotherhood, their stubbornness, and their lifelong dedication. The guys are made out of metal. Back when Whitesnake,the Scorpions,and Bon Jovi were making pop metal,these guys were tearing shit up and making way for bands like Metallica.Bondage suit?Fuck yeah!

At once both depressing and uplifting, a cry for living your life without regrets, and a look at what happens, when those regrets start creeping in. Heartwrenching.

I spent the whole film thinking it was a parody... and my god I wish it was. Emotionally involving docummentry about the band that never made it.