DVD Review: Anvil! The Story Of Anvil

Hey! I got my hands on this DVD before it hits the market! That makes me pretty dang special, does it not? (Answer: no, it does not.)

Anyway, for starters, I am going to just say that this film is strongly, strongly recommended. If you love metal, rock and roll, or just music in general, this film will give you a humorous yet sobering look at the world of musicians giving their all to be "rock stars." Even if you hate metal or rock... well, you'll probably think the guys in the film are idiots for chasing such an elusive dream, but MAYBE, JUST MAYBE... you'll fall for these guys, who in their quest for stardom do so with a quiet, honest humility.

However, the main demographic that needs to see this film are those who profess to love the film "This Is Spinal Tap."

I was told by someone (can't really remember now who it was, but it was someone, I'll tell you that) that this film was "like Spinal Tap, except real." And really, it can't be summed up any better. To list a number of similarities: both capture bands on the tail end of their career trying to milk whatever fame they might still have left in them, both get embroiled in disastrous gigs where either no one shows up or they seem horribly out of place, both end the movie in Japan... heck, the lead singer (named Lips) even quotes the famous "hello Cleveland!" line halfway through the movie. Really, it's as if the main goal through this film was to make a real-life companion piece to the fictional Spinal Tap.

And it works, for the most part. Yet there are a few key differences, one being that the guys in Anvil could never be mistaken for the prissy, spaced-out rock stars of Spinal Tap. The other difference is that in Spinal Tap, it's easy to laugh, since the characters are essentially just cartoons. Which is true for Anvil for a while, but then Anvil takes a sobering turn halfway through the movie, when you realize that these aren't just goofs chasing after a bit of fame, they're normal people chasing a glamorous dream, even with little hope at succeeding. So at some point before the film's short 80 minutes are over, you'll be hoping that somehow, despite the odds against them, they'll find a way to quit their crappy catering job and, you know... rock out for a living.

It's also interesting to see how against the loud, prima donna rock star stereotype these guys are. Which might even be a reason for the lack of success they found, as they seem too unassuming and kind to ever take advantage of anyone for the benefit of their own careers. I guess it's sort of a moot point now, since the film itself has brought Anvil into a bit of the spotlight, but hopefully now that they've grabbed a bit of that success, they possess the power to perhaps even maintain some of it instead of falling into complete obscurity once again.

EXTRA FEATURES SINCE I WAS BORED ENOUGH TO WATCH THIS MORNING:
-Deleted scenes! There's about three of them, totalling up to be 12 minutes in length. They're much appreciated, since they flush out the story a little more (including a scene visiting the band's former members).
-Commentary by the director and Lips and Robb Reiner (the drummer): Also enjoyable, and gives off an even stronger impression of just how normal these musicians seem, since they seem clearly surprised and humbled by the experience the film has delivered them. Unfortunately, sounding like normal people means that you don't sound like seasoned commentary vets, and thusly you don't have much to say. So the director talks all the time. Fortunately, since he was a former roadie for Anvil, there's still some cool stories to hear.
-A 30 minute interview with Lars Ulrich. If for some reason you're really big on listening to the drummer of Metallica talk about one band for 30 minutes, then you'll probably want to buy this. If not, then good for you.
-A video from the last concert in the film, with the director of the film filling in for drums. Which is cool and all, but after listening to him talk endlessly about everything... you kind of start to picture him as sort of a self-important blowhard. Which may or may not be fair. But still.