Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984) – The Movie That Scaled to Eleven

I really wanted to write about Rob Reiner following the horrific deaths of he and his wife. Then I realized the best way I could pay tribute to him is by checking out his directorial debut, This is Spinal Tap

It’s a rare occurrence, but there are a handful of movies that fall into my “drop everything and watch” category. If I’m channel surfing and stumble across A Few Good Men or The American President, my plans for the afternoon are officially cancelled. I’ve always admired Rob Reiner’s ability to capture sharp dialogue and compelling characters, but I recently realized I had a massive gap in my film history: I had never seen his directorial debut.

This Is Spinal Tap isn’t just a movie; it’s the “Big Bang” of the mockumentary. It defined an entire genre of comedy, yet somehow, I was 40 years late to the party.

The Plot: A Long Way to the Bottom

The film follows Spinal Tap, a legendary (and fictional) British heavy metal band, as they embark on a disastrous US tour to promote their controversial new album, Smell the Glove. Acting as our eyes and ears is filmmaker Marty DiBergi (played by Reiner), who is capturing what he thinks will be a triumphant comeback.

Instead, he documents a slow-motion train wreck. We watch the band move from massive arenas to playing second-fiddle at puppet shows, all while dealing with stage props that won’t open, backstage security that doesn’t recognize them, and a revolving door of drummers who keep dying in bizarre “freak accidents.”

The Secret Sauce: Why It Works

What makes Spinal Tap so legendary isn’t just the jokes—it’s the authenticity. I was surprised to learn that the film had no traditional script. Reiner and the cast operated from a loose 20-page outline, improvising nearly every iconic line of dialogue on the spot.

Even more impressive? The actors are actually playing the music. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer are talented musicians who wrote and performed every song. Because they played the characters with such a “straight face,” the parody felt dangerously real. In fact, many real-life rock stars like Steven Tyler and Ozzy Osbourne famously said the movie was hard to watch because it mirrored their own ridiculous tour experiences too closely.

The Legacy of “The Eleven”

Without the DNA of Spinal Tap, we likely wouldn’t have the “cringe comedy” we love today. It pioneered the “talking head” interview and the awkward camera zooms that would later define the UK and US versions of The Office. You can see the direct line from this film to Christopher Guest’s later masterpieces like Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman.

The Verdict

Watching this 40 years later, I was struck by how well the humor holds up. It’s a testament to Reiner’s genius that his first time behind the camera resulted in a film that is still the gold standard for satire.

Whether it’s the 18-inch Stonehenge monument or an amplifier that goes to eleven, the bits are played with such earnestness that they never stop being funny. Spinal Tap walks the “fine line between stupid and clever” better than any movie in history. If you’re a fan of celebrity culture, rock history, or just great comedy, this isn’t just recommended—it’s mandatory.

The article “Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.