Anvil! The Story Of Anvil

At this point, anyone even remotely in touch with pop culture knows the saga of Toronto, ON's Anvil. A metal band once slated for greatness, circa early '80s, they were eventually left out in the cold soon after due to mismanagement, poor decisions and other factors. Eventually they slipped from performing in stadiums to a few local watering hole gigs here and there. Still, they never gave up despite a decreasing fan base worldwide, continually releasing records. Decades later, old friend Sacha Gervasi had done well in Hollywood, found them, heard their tale and opted to film the situation. That's the premise behind Anvil! The Story Of Anvil and it works incredibly well. A true-to-life This Is Spinal Tap, we follow the band through thin in hopes of finding thick once again, from their crummy jobs to a horrible European tour, recording a 13th album that's ignored and eventually stepping back out onto a stadium stage just before the true insanity of their reclaimed popularity begins. Yet Anvil! The Story Of Anvil is compelling because of the honesty Gervasi's camera captures. It's heart-warming, goofy, sad and funny all at the same time; the film is worthwhile for all regardless of musical tastes. Moreover, the DVD's special features, including a commentary track with Gervasi, singer Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner, offers more insight into the Anvil story, mostly due to Reiner and Kudlow's stunning humility, and the why-did-they-cut-them? deleted scenes are invaluable for the shocking heartbreak of seeing these two men's rugged daily lives. Hilarity does ensue in one extra where Gervasi jams on drums with the band. Such is not the case during the extended ranting of Lars Ulrich though, where he spends a half-hour striving to praise the band after years of ignoring them.