This is Spinal Tap

What an unbelievably brilliant movie. I mean, I have heard of its majesty, but I never could have predicted how truly fabulous it is.

This is Spinal Tap is a satire of a documentary--I'm sorry, a "rockumentary"--about Britain's loudest band, Spinal Tap. Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins leads the band as he and his band mates live and tell their story in front of the camera of filmmaker Marty DiBergi, played by everyone's favorite meat head, Rob Reiner.

The satire is brilliant. What's truly amazing about it is how not far off it is from the way a washed up rock band probably is. They think they're still someone. They think someone still cares. So they act like they're the greatest thing ever and act like jerks trying to get people to do things for them, but nobody actually cares. The ego, the girlfriend that breaks up the band, the fight with the manager, the failed publicity attempts, the many changes in images, the bold album covers. It could absolutely be mistaken for real, even though it is on the floor hilarious.

My favorite parts are the scenes where DiBergi is talking to Nigel, played by Christopher Guest. The discussions are stated so matter-of-factly, but what they're talking about is completely ridiculous. I have a great appreciation for both satire and nonsequiter humor, and these scenes embody those types of humor perfectly.

I've never seen a movie like this before. There are very few that fit into the genre of the fake documentary, other than, perhaps, The Blair Witch Project. It's both intellectually amazing and outstandingly funny. Who could ask for more in a film?

"These amps go to 11," baby!