12. This Is Spinal Tap vs. A Night to Remember

This Is Spinal Tap is a great comedy that I feel like I'm struggling to write about. It's a classic mockumentary, possibly the best in the genre, but for some reason I'm not able to formulate anything more than, "it's funny!" I think if I were more into the cock-waving world of heavy metal or was more invested in band movies that I'd have more to say. Nearly every joke lands here, with the only false step (in my opinion) being the fate of their current drummer and the hinted threat of violence by their longtime manager against David's girlfriend June. If I had to pick a favorite character it would probably be Harry Shearer as the mustachioed bassist Derek, mainly because he looks ridiculous but also because two of my favorite physical gags involve him being a bit of a butt monkey.

Really, if I watched this movie in my teens or early twenties when music played a much larger role in my life, I probably would have latched onto it and have joined the cult of fans that still attend Spinal Tap concerts. As it is, it's a brilliant comedy that I like a lot and would recommend to everyone, but I'm feeling a certain level of detachment to it that I can't quite explain. Maybe I need to watch it several more times for me to throw it in the "love" category. Its cult status is definitely deserved, and I can see how the sharp satiric bent of this film eventually went into shows like The Simpsons (and not just because there Shearer connection) and influenced pop culture. The reason why it doesn't feel dated to me is because the humor still seems fresh. It's a very tight film that doesn't overstay its welcome and keeps the jokes coming up until the credits in. The economy at work here is a relief when dealing with 2 1/2 hour meandering Judd Apatow films.

All of this sounds like I'm going to rank it low, but that's not the case. This is a film that I'd gladly watch again, even if I wouldn't rush out and buy it. It's definitely a more memorable film that A Night to Remember or The Lady Vanishes, but I can't get myself to rank it higher than The Killer. Right now, the #9 spot seems fair, even if a case could be made that this should be higher up.

1. Beauty and the Beast (1946)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. The Seventh Seal (1957)
4. Grand Illusion (1937)
5. Hard Boiled (1992)
6. The 400 Blows (1959)
7. Walkabout (1971)
8. The Killer (1989)
9. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
10. A Night to Remember (1958)
11. The Lady Vanishes (1938)
12. Amarcord (1973)

Next: I slip on a size 14 when I review Jonathan Demme's horror classic The Silence of the Lambs.