Anvil!: The Story Of Anvil

Much of the early buzz around Anvil! The Story Of Anvil made Sacha Gervasi's documentary about the unheralded '80s metal band sound like a real-life This Is Spinal Tap. But the film plays more like the metal version of Chris Smith's American Movie. Frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow subs in for that film’s Mark Borchardt as the group's perpetually optimistic dreamer, still chasing a rock 'n' roll fantasy that's out of step with the times. But Kudlow's enthusiasm, and absolute faith in Anvil and his best friend/drummer, Robb Reiner, is charming, even when it seems completely hopeless. And Anvil's talent automatically negates the Spinal Tap comparison. Besides, this story ends happily: Anvil recently toured with AC/DC, and a new album, This Is Thirteen, came out in mid-September of 2009.

Updated 01/11/2012