This Is Spinal Tap

This Is Spinal Tap is the ‘rock-umentary’ about the semi-fictitious hard-rock band, Spinal Tap. Directed by Rob Reiner (who also directed Princess Bride), the film stars David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer).
The film is supposed to be based on Tap’s tour in America to promote their latest album, Smell The Glove. The band is infamous for their loud, obnoxious sound and their less than politically correct lyrics (with songs like “Working On A Sex Farm” and “Big Bottom”).
Tap beings their tour across America by first visiting their producers who have refused to produce the album because the cover is sexually degrading to women. The band manager, Ian Faith (Tony Hendra), attempts to influence the record company while he tries to keep the band in line.
As the band tours America, the audience is given a chance to learn more about its members and history. The film is set up in a way that shows a series of events concerning their American tour while simultaneously adding small interviews with different members of the band and, sometimes, the entire group.
As it turns out, the band has a primarily male audience (who would be surprise by that when you listen to their songs) and so their shows have become smaller. They experience cancellations in several cities as well.
While trying to put on a ‘Stonehenge/ druidian’ themed show, the band manager fails to come through with a piece of stagecraft, which he argues was the fault of one of the band members. This leads to discord between the band and Ian and so he leaves the group to be replaced by David’s girlfriend, Jeanine.
Once Jeanine takes over however, the band’s encounter even more cancellations and find themselves opening for puppet shows at the local fair and for military parties. It’s at this point that Nigel, who already had a rocky relationship with Jeanine leaves the band.
As sad as the plot sounds, the movie as actually hugely funny. It is said that the vast majority of this film was ad-libbed which makes the dialogue even funnier. The acting in the film is weirdly real for being a complete spoof of a rock band. What I mean is that they portray a totally convincing group of idiots.