On DVD-'Anvil! The Story of Anvil'

'Anvil! The Story of Anvil' (NR) ***1/2

Director: Sacha Gervasi
Starring: Steve "Lips" Kudrow, Robb Reiner

Anvil is one of the best Heavy Metal bands that a lot of people don't even know about. They were an unusual band from Canada with a huge following in the early 80's with a huge fan base but something happened to them as they disappeared from the scene and faded away. The new documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" tries to find out what happened as it tracks down the two founding members. Anvil was destined for greatness as they were emerging at the same time The Scorpions, Bon Jovi and Whitesnake were about to hit it big. That stardom eluded them though and this wonderful new movie tries to track them down. Director Sacha Gervasi tracks down the lead singer Steve "Lips" Kudrow and the drummer Robb Reiner as he finds them doing odd jobs but still trying to make beautiful and thrashing music. This is a documentary but it has two of the most memorable characters you will ever meet in the charasmatic and emotional Kudrow and the smooth and cool Reiner. This is a fascinating documentary and all kinds of music fans will absolutely love this! "Anvil! The Movie" was seen as a real life Spinal Tap. There are some similarities and it shows how Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap" was brilliant. This though is the real thing and you will grow to love and be fascinated by these men!

Success is a fickle thing. No one knows why some bands become successful and can stay together and other bands can't quite make it. The band's music is very good but talent can only go so far. This movie wonderfully revisits Kudrow and Reiner as they do their odd side jobs while still enjoying playing their music. Now decades later they want to recapture that music with some new members. They go on the road and play a tour through different countries and they try to reemerge on the scene with the help of a well meaning but incompetent road manager and the band can't understand a word she is saying sometimes. They also deal with an incompetent club owner who won't pay them. Some of the incidents that happen to the band could fill a Spinal Tap sequel. This is not a joke though because you really grow to love these guys and you root for them and you want to see them succeed. Steve Kudrow has a big heart and he loves Reiner like a brother. He is very emotional and takes a lot of frustration out on Reiner. Reiner is so cool though that he can shrug it off a little but there is only so much one can take and you can see why this band couldn't keep it together. Their relationship is like a marriage and it has many ups and downs. Rock band members do go through a lot together like a marriage and some marriages work (The Rolling Stones) and some don't (Anvil). Reiner and Kudrow are just good men with good hearts and I loved following their new adventure as they also try to make a new album. There are many tense scenes between the two as they try to recapture glory.

This movie is great and highly entertaining and is more complelling then 95% of recent movies. Gervasi conducts great interviews from other rock stars who were influenced by Anvil including guitarist Slash and Lars Ulkrich from Mteallica. Also he interviews family members and the wives of Reiner and Kudrow and they are great support. This is a very funny, powerful and fascinating look at a great band and you will be rooting for them to succeed. This is one of the best documentaries ever made and one of the best movies of 2009. It is available on DVD and there is a great extended interview with Lars Ulrich that is fascinating and the DVD commentary by Gervasi, Kudrow and Reiner is hilarious and must be heard and this movie is a definite msut see!