Anvil: The Story of Anvil

This mockumentary is a joke and slap in the face to anyone expecting "realism". This is the story of 99.9% of bands that try to make a living at music. These guys are below average in every aspect and the lyrics sound like a 12 year old trying to entertain his friends with fart jokes! What is sad is that these narcissists families all take a back seat and suffer because these goofballs refuse to grow up! I went to school with the same type of people who are still playing bars all over California in their 50s on the weekends and it's pathetic. Lips whole family is a success except for him. His poor mother even realizes he doesn't have what it takes. All of this fighting and not getting paid is staged for the film! These guys are what's wrong in the world. People who live on a fantasy world and think you're crazy because you're a realist! Same with a lot of religious people. I grew up in a family that lives in a fantasy world and think they are the only ones ever who got it right! Anvil, give up, get a job and support your family and enjoy life with your family and friends and enjoy playing music for yourselves.

source: Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Super Rock '84 in Japan was a touring rock festival that had Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Scorpions, Michael Schenker Group and Anvil playing. Of these bands, Anvil had the least success, but it wasn't for lack of effort. At the time of this movie, Steve "Lips" Kudlow is working for a catering company and Robb Reiner is in construction. Their real lives are in constant juxtaposition with what being a rock star promised them, which is the story of this film. Sacha Gervasi wrote the Tom Hanks movie The Terminal, but two decades before, he had been a roadie for Anvil. Who knew that someday he'd make the movie about them that would let the world know they existed, as well win an Independent Spirit Award and an Emmy? It seems like every time the band gets close to their dreams, things go wrong. It always makes me think, when I wonder what it would have been like to be a rock star instead of having a day job, exactly how it would all turn out. This movie is a sobering reminder that not everyone makes it. Until, well, they do. I kind of love the moment where Kudlow and Reiner nearly kill a promoter for not paying them. I had a similar moment happen when I first started in pro wrestling. A promoter wanted to pay us in checks and I didn't know any better. That's when I learned to always get paid in cash. A vet taught me that, as he grabbed that promoter, shoved a revolver in his face and demanded that the two of us get our money right now. I was kind of shocked by it all, but it was nice to drive home with actual cash, even if a man's life had to be put in jeopardy. I remembered all of that when I watched this.

I have always been into rock music and I've seen many bands in my time, but I really can't remember if I ever saw Anvil. I'm sure they must have played some of the 'Monsters of Rock' shows back in the 80's, but the 80's are pretty much a blur to me now. Anyhow, I digress, Anvil are from Canada and were formed by Steve 'Lips' Kudlow (Lead guitar & vocals) and Robb Reiner (Drummer). Thirty years on they are still going and still trying to get the recognition they deserve. Steve Kudlow works for a company that delivers meals to schools for his day job. At night and at weekends he's the lead singer and guitarist for the band Anvil. Now, back in the 80's they were performing on stage with the likes of Whitesnake and Bon Jovi at sell-out shows in places like Tokyo, Japan. The other bands found fame and fortune but Anvil never did. Their music influenced likes of Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax but they never got the recognition they deserved. This documentary takes us with the band on a tour of Europe, with tour manager Tiziana Arrigoni, through the recording of their thirteenth album and ends with them back playing live in Japan. It's a roller coaster ride that, at times, gets very emotional, but their indomitable spirit wins you over and you can't help but end up liking those guys. I won't go into the specifics of what happens on screen, it's better to see for yourselves. I really liked this film, not just because it's about a rock band, more because it's about the determination they have to see their dream through. I really admire them for that. Even when they're recording the album and Steve and Robb fall out, and the producer, Chris Tsangarides, is having to referee, you feel that it means so much to them. There's testimonials from the likes of Lemmy, Slash and Lars Ulrich, but I was more interested in the people in the band, rather than what they did in the past. A bunch of guys at 50 years old still playing their hearts out and putting everything they can into the band has to be admired. Whether you like rock music or not I highly recommend this film, I guarantee you'll enjoy it; it's only 80 minutes long and well worth it! My score: 8.4/10

But the actual people in the band simply never came to grasp that what they had to offer to music was poorly done, meant little, was repetitious and boring, was meant for people much younger, and has no modern relevance. It's proved when their 'manager' wants to go into 'opera.' At least one of the family recognizes the futility of continuing the struggle for rock stardom. The scene in which they wander through Tokyo, the city of their minor 'triumph, showed their innocence, but also their lack of understanding. Some truly hilarious, yet revelatory scenes, including playing for about 5 people in Prague and all over Europe, not getting paid, missing the train, cement this as a classic documentary, but the extras show ex-band members happily living a real life with no awful dreams of metal god-dom, which portrays Lips and Robb as completely delusional in their pursuit. I admire their spirit, but their lack of insight and basic intelligence made the movie, and them, laughable. Poor sad sacks!

Recently I saw a DVD with a promo for this movie. Thought it might have been a mockumentary, even though it said otherwise in the promo (well, what mockumentary would own up?). On learning that a certain Robb Reiner was in this movie, my memory kicked in...the guy from "This is Spinal Tap" right? Why is he going over the same old ground again? Anyway, its Robb Reiner, not the Rob Reiner of the mockumentary. In some ways this documentary reminded me of a good documentary on The Ramones, called "The end of the century". The Ramones were virtually ignored by the record buying public, despite having kudos for their work, which was poignant in itself...what's more important...kudos, or earning a living from your passion? This documentary looks at Anvil, a Canadian heavy metal band that for a brief moment looked like they could carve a successful career with their brand of heavy metal in the early 1980s. We see them at the start of this documentary many decades later (now), and the band's key players, drummer Robb and lead singer "Lips", work day jobs to support their families, as their music career hasn't really scaled any heights...they still play, but it's more of a hobby now than a way to get rich. There are a couple of brilliant moments in this movie which would be worthwhile for aspiring musicians to hear: 1) after a disastrous tour of Europe, Robb and Lips are approached by a lawyer, after the venue refused to pay the band after playing there. He asks why they aren't playing in front of at least 5,000 people every time they play. The lawyer's own answer as to why this is so is priceless. 2) a sound engineer or some such remarks about the process of recording an album and getting the right sound onto the master tape. Again, aspiring musicians need to hear the kinds of things that that engineer says. It's arguable that if the band had met the criteria mentioned by the lawyer and the engineer, they COULD have been as big as Motley Crue or Guns'n'Roses etc. That's their little tragedy. This really isn't a documentary about heavy metal...you will hear some music, but it's not central. What I heard was good...maybe they deserve the kind of credit attributed to huge bands like Metallica, as far as pioneering a new genre of heavy metal. That they have been so quickly forgotten makes it possible, perhaps, for others to claim the glory for themselves, or for others to give it to them. In science you hear of the fact that observing something changes the nature of that which is observed. In other words, you can't observe something and have that subject matter remain 'as it is'. That truism comes to mind in this movie. Anvil have a break here, by being the subject of this documentary. Haven't really followed up where they are at now, but maybe they will now make the kind of money they SHOULD have been making before. Do they deserve to? Do other, better bands, without this exposure deserve success MORE than Anvil? Can't say that I know the answers to these questions. It would be gratifying to learn that Anvil are now a success in any case. "End of the century" had a great, poignant scene where The Ramones entered a South American arena in front of the tens of thousands of screaming, adoring fans. You could see it in the band's eyes...'How long has this been going on for?'. For that brief moment, they could become what they no doubt always dreamed of being...Rock Stars. Will Anvil have that moment? This documentary is about exploring their attempts to do that. There are some mockumentary kinds of moments in this movie...where the Canadian band members speak a kind of 'L.A.' speak when in highly emotional states. It sort of looks fake, but you know that the emotion behind it is raw, and is quite moving, despite the vernacular. This documentary might prompt me to explore some of this band's albums. Given when some of these albums were released, they sounded a lot heavier, perhaps, than what their peers were bringing out. Go Anvil!

A fantastic film. I sat down to watch it fully expecting to be guffawing with laughter as I mocked the pathetic antics of the joke failed metal band... I was so wrong. That isn't to say there weren't genuinely laugh out loud moments all through the movie, but the guys in the band come across as so likable, and the innocent passion with which they are following their dream is so poignant, your heart just goes out to them. Their story is told simply and honestly, and I defy anyone not to be rooting for Anvil by the end of the film. Hell, I almost had a tear up when they came on stage near the end (and I'm tough as nails, by the way). If you want to laugh at the Spinal Tap-esquire antics of a failing heavy metal band, I recommend 'Metallica - Some Kind of Monster',in which my former idols generally act like a bunch of tits all the way through. If you want to laugh and cry to a bittersweet tale of human spirit that is simultaneously heartwarming and heartrending, then 'Anvil' is for you. A bunch of -let's face it- ageing nobodies display characters worthy of rock legends. There are parallels with another great film 'The Wrestler', as both are tales of broken dreams and camaraderie. Maybe Anvil are pathetic, but in the true sense of the word 'causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness'. I truly hope they found some of the success and recognition they have been craving for 30 odd years on the back of this film.

I saw an interview with these guys in some magazine recently and I didn't know if Anvil was an actual band and I was a bit of a Canadian metalhead teenager growing up in the '80's. So I go into this documentary not honestly knowing if it's a mockumentary for at least the first 10 minutes, I even thought the glowing testimonials from Slash and Lars were send ups. Finally, it became clear that these guys are for real and this film takes you all over the emotional spectrum in the process. The European tour has you laughing your head off and covering your eyes in disbelief as well. Then you meet the families and your heart nearly breaks for the support and love that these people have for their never-give-up metalheaded brethren. This was just a very, very good documentary, I don't think you would have to be a metal fan to enjoy this, these two guys are such great, sincere people that I think anyone could love them and root for them and you will if you take the time to watch. This film caught me totally off-guard, just really a great job by the director, Sacha Gervasi, to make you really care for these two guys and to be moved by their persistence and determination.

Totally disagree with the other reviews As a documentary, it wasn’t impartial. To my thinking, it only gave a very narrow view of the situation. Apart from lisp’s incessant complaining, it seems obvious why the band/person never acquired the success he/they feel so cheated out of, 1-he’s an average guitarist (one trick pony,player) 2-he’s a below average singer (bark bake shout bark) 3-questionalble songwriter/tunesmith (each song sounds like a clone of the last) This alone would explain the failings of the band. But also, the fact that lips is happy to accept handouts from his family, so he can “Wait for it” trip off & record an album! Or drift around in part-time work, until.. “Wait for it” a tour becomes available. Rather than commit to a real job he finds it easier to do the minimum amount of work possible hanging around for someone to contact him. After getting the blow off from EMI Canada, he gripes about younger talent. I expect if you had gone back 60 years when he was a teenager he would have complained about "how many old artists there are" holding him back. Having said that. You should see this movie & see a very self-centered person feed his ego & gripe a lot.

My title says it all. If you enjoyed Spinal Tap, then get set for a bizarre experience because these guys are Tap for real. If you haven't seen Spinal Tap (the greatest rock comedy ever made), then flog yourself mercilessly for 5 minutes, go watch it, then watch this movie. Directed by Sacha Gervasi, himself the ex-drummer of the successful band Bush before they got successful, you can tell that there is a lot of finesse to the way this film was put together. The result, engineered as only an ex-rocker-wannabe could do, is a rock & roll documentary that is enlightening, entertaining, sentimental and hilarious. "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" follows one of the 80s metal bands that didn't quite make it to everlasting fame and cult status as did their contemporaries Metallica, Anthrax, Maiden, Priest, etc. What makes this an exceptional story is that the characters, bandmates Robb Reiner and Lips Kudlow, are truly lovable dorks straight out of Spinal Tap. This is what heavy metal is all about: teenage nerds who pick up guitars and use thousands of watts of power to compensate for their nerdiness, never quite giving up (or growing up) decades later. Unlike other superstar musicians who hide behind snottiness, bravado and attitude, these guys are the same as they ever were: the proverbial underdogs whom you can't help but cheer on. We see their humble beginnings and equally humble endings, as well as their current comeback efforts, all of which will keep you thoroughly immersed even if you're not a fan of heavy metal. It's hard to think of other films to compare this to (other than the aforementioned Spinal Tap). Don't miss either one of these classics! By the way, as a postscript to the film... Anvil eventually did record the song "Thumb Hang" in 2009, the year after this film was released. And I'm happy to say that the song lives up to being the most ridiculously awesome metal song ever written about Medieval thumb torture!