This Is Spinal Tap Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A band with amps that go to 11 tries to make a comeback, but their Stonehenge prop is tiny, and their album cover is too hot for record stores.

🍿 This Is Spinal Tap: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Documentary Begins

Marty DiBergi, a filmmaker, begins documenting the American comeback tour of the legendary English heavy metal band Spinal Tap. The band consists of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls. DiBergi interviews the band members, exploring their history, musical influences, and evolving image over the years.

Tour Troubles and Album Controversy

As the tour progresses, Spinal Tap faces a series of unfortunate events. Gigs are canceled, venues are smaller than expected, and their new album, ‘Smell the Glove,’ faces controversy due to its suggestive cover art. The band’s manager, Ian Faith, attempts to downplay the band’s declining popularity, but the reality becomes increasingly apparent.

Spinal Tap’s Stonehenge Debacle

One of the tour’s most memorable moments involves a disastrous performance of their song ‘Stonehenge.’ Due to a miscommunication, the band’s elaborate Stonehenge stage prop is built to be only 18 inches high, leading to a comical and underwhelming performance. This incident becomes emblematic of the band’s overall struggles.

Internal Conflicts and Band Breakup

Tensions within the band escalate as David’s girlfriend, Jeanine, interferes with the band’s management, leading to Ian’s departure. Nigel, frustrated with the band’s direction and Jeanine’s influence, quits the band, leaving David and Derek to continue the tour with dwindling success.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner): The earnest documentary filmmaker who chronicles Spinal Tap’s ill-fated American comeback tour.
• David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean): The lead singer of Spinal Tap, known for his often misguided artistic vision and on-again, off-again relationship with Nigel.
• Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest): The lead guitarist of Spinal Tap, famous for his love of volume and unique musical ideas, like amps that go to 11.
• Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer): The bassist of Spinal Tap, often caught in the middle of David and Nigel’s creative differences.
• Ian Faith (Tony Hendra): Spinal Tap’s long-suffering manager, who struggles to keep the band afloat amidst their dwindling popularity and numerous mishaps.
• Jeanine Pettibone (June Chadwick): David’s girlfriend, who attempts to manage Spinal Tap, often creating tension within the band.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nigel Tufnel: “These go to eleven.” – Nigel explains to Marty the unique qualities of his amplifiers, which have volume knobs that go to 11 instead of the usual 10.
• Marty DiBergi: “What is your ক্যাপション? What statement are you trying to make?” – Marty asks the band about their intentions with their music.
• Ian Faith: “I’m telling you, the Boston gig has been canceled. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. It’s not a big college town.” – Ian attempts to downplay the tour’s failures by misrepresenting the situation to the band.
• Nigel Tufnel: “It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.” – Nigel reflects on the complexities of his musical creations, suggesting that his artistic vision rides a delicate balance.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2.5M
• Domestic Gross: $4.7M
• Worldwide Gross: $4.7M

💥 This Is Spinal Tap Reviews

Personal Review

I’ve seen this movie a million times, and it never gets old. The ‘This one goes to eleven’ scene is legendary, but it’s the subtle humor and the band’s obliviousness that really make it brilliant. The Stonehenge debacle always makes me laugh out loud. It’s a perfect satire of rock and roll egos.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of rock music”
  • “Viewers who enjoy satire and mockumentaries”
  • “Comedy enthusiasts”
  • “People interested in the behind-the-scenes of the music industry”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Language”
  • “Drug references”

Professional Reviews

• Rolling Stone: “A brilliant satire of the rockumentary genre. The improvisational genius of the cast makes every scene a comedic gem. The film’s brilliance lies in its ability to blur the line between fiction and reality.
• The New York Times: “Spinal Tap is a pitch-perfect parody of heavy metal excess. The mockumentary format allows for endless comedic opportunities, and the film’s quotability has cemented its status as a cult classic. A must-see for any music fan.

Audience Reactions

The Stonehenge scene is comedic perfection.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s quotability and the cast’s improvisational skills.

Overall Consensus: A timeless comedy classic that perfectly satirizes the world of rock and roll. Highly quotable and endlessly entertaining.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was largely improvised, with the actors creating much of the dialogue and situations on the spot.”
• “Many real-life musicians have stated that the situations depicted in the film closely mirror their own experiences, blurring the line between fiction and reality.”
• “The Stonehenge prop mishap was inspired by a real-life incident involving Black Sabbath, who ordered a large Stonehenge set piece for their tour, but it was built too large to fit in most venues.”
• “The band’s name, Spinal Tap, was chosen because the creators wanted a name that sounded both vaguely threatening and slightly ridiculous.”

🖥️ How to Watch This Is Spinal Tap?

This Is Spinal Tap is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for potential broadcast options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed This Is Spinal Tap, you might like these similar films:

• Waiting for Guffman (1996): Another mockumentary from Christopher Guest, focusing on a small town’s amateur theatrical production with a similar improvisational style.
• A Hard Day’s Night (1964): Captures the frenetic energy and absurdity of being in a hugely popular band during the height of Beatlemania.
• This is Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008): A real documentary that feels like a mockumentary, chronicling the struggles of a genuinely obscure heavy metal band still chasing their dreams.
• Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016): A more modern take on the mockumentary format, lampooning the world of pop music and celebrity culture with catchy songs and absurd situations.

🛒 This Is Spinal Tap Related Products

• This Is Spinal Tap (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: Limited edition Blu-ray with restored visuals, bonus content, and insightful commentary from the cast and crew. Features a wealth of behind-the-scenes material.
• This Is Spinal Tap: The Official Companion: Official companion book that explores the history of the band, with interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and trivia. Features extended insights into the characters and the making of the film.
• Spinal Tap ‘Smell the Glove’ T-Shirt: High-quality t-shirt featuring the infamous ‘Smell the Glove’ album cover art (the black version, of course). A conversation starter for any fan of the film.
• Spinal Tap ‘Amp Goes to 11’ Coffee Mug: Durable ceramic mug featuring the iconic amplifier that goes to 11. A daily reminder that sometimes, you just need that extra push.

🎧 Soundtrack

This Is Spinal Tap features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Big Bottom” – performed by Spinal Tap
• “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” – performed by Spinal Tap
• “Sex Farm” – performed by Spinal Tap
• “Hell Hole” – performed by Spinal Tap
• “Stonehenge” – performed by Spinal Tap

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Spinal Tap – “These go to eleven….”

“These go to eleven” is one of the most quoted lines from Spinal Tap and this clip is the perfect way to experience it. The interaction between the band members is hilarious and it’s clear that they’re all having a blast.

Siskel & Ebert – “This Is Spinal Tap”

Siskel & Ebert are known for their insightful movie reviews, and their praise for This Is Spinal Tap indicates that it was well-received by critics. If you’re interested in learning more about the movie’s critical reception, this is a great video to check out.

Spinal Tap – Interview Good Morning America 3-30-92

This interview with the band from Good Morning America is a great way to see how they stayed in character even when they weren’t filming the movie. It’s clear that they had a lot of fun making Spinal Tap, and their enthusiasm for the project is contagious.

✨ Rate