Alternately hilarious and touching documentary about Canadian metal band still struggling to hit it big after thirty years of toil. Though they started out playing alongside megabands such as Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe and Metallica, Anvil never took off and were reduced to releasing a slew of self-produced albums and playing in clubs while their contemporaries raked in megabucks at packed stadiums. The film starts with the band going on a European tour organised by the guitarist’s new Russian girlfriend - alarm bells sound – which predictably goes from bad to worse and includes some moments which made me wonder why they didn’t just chuck it all in and fly home. The epic “Monsters Of Transylvania” metal festival has to be seen to be believed. True Spinal Tap-itude.
Band stalwarts Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner (not the bowling ball-headed director) are lifelong friends, and refreshingly normal guys free of ego - just ordinary working stiffs who keep the band going for the “joy” of it and in the hope of that elusive big break. Lips’ introductory scene is slightly surreal as he drives his delivery truck through the snow and goes off on a lengthy ramble about cafeteria menus. At this this stage I had serious doubts about whether he was grounded in reality. In fact the guy is really grounded and may well be the most upbeat, optimistic musician I have ever seen, even spouting his thankfulness for the cataclysmic European tour experience. No Lars Ulrich style tantrums here, which is bizarrely refreshing. Just a few good old fashioned arguments followed up by group hugs.
Unfortunately, as with other documentaries of this ilk, some scenes feel a bit rigged such as when the band contact bigtime metal producer Chris Tsangarides who drops everything to produce their new album - though in fairness they had worked with him before and it may have been done in the spirit of metal brotherhood. He also has some rather sobering truths for the band. As a nice turnaround to the band’s relentless stagnation the climactic gig has a feelgood payoff, though again felt a bit staged or overly convenient. Rabid Anvil fans “Cut Loose” and “Mad Dog” pop up occasionally throughout the film and are a hoot, but should be a warning to us all about the ridiculousness of the middle-aged metal fan.
Worthy.
