Reviewed by Lewis Bazley
Stars Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Chris Tsangarides, Kevin Goocher,
Glenn Gyorffy | Produced by Sacha Gervasi & Rebecca Yeldham | Original music by David Norland
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £24.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 80 minutes | Directed by Sacha Gervasi
For those who still rock: we salute you. Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner played an integral role in the birth of heavy metal as founder members of Canadian band Anvil, but despite touring the world in the early 80s, fame eluded the childhood friends while their former rivals went on to sell millions.
Kudlow and Reiner met at school in Toronto in 1973, with Anvil formed in 1978. The band changed the face of heavy rock with second album Metal on Metal but after a series of poorly negotiated contracts and under-produced records, Anvil faded into obscurity while their peers ascended. Anvil! The Story of Anvil finds the founder members taking one last shot at the big time. Screenwriter and director Sacha Gervasi worked as a roadie for Anvil during his teens after meeting them after a London show in 1982 before opting for a writing career.
Gervasi's absorbing documentary doesn't even concern a band with minor fame but a pair of never-weres refusing to abandon their dreams despite success continually eluding them. But with this remarkably human look at a genre considered laughable by many, the writer/director might have just given Steve and Robb one last shot at redemption.
While the Spinal Tap comparisons can't be ignored – rubbish foreign band manager, sometimes cringeworthy metal, depressingly low gig attendance and a band member called Robb Reiner – this is so much more. Steve's indomitable spirit, the exasperation of producer Chris Tsangerides and Robb's inability to abandon his brother-in-arms leaves the audience member pulled into a world of distortion, devilish intent and diamond-studded jackets and unwilling to leave when an exhilarating climax is so happily reached.
• Review supplied by Inthenews.co.uk
EXTRAS *** Audio commentaries; deleted scenes; a collection of interviews; a featurette called Sacha Gervasi Rocks With Anvil, where the director performs on stage with the band; a pair of trailers.
• Read our interview with Anvil! Frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow