This is Spinal Tap

This is Spinal Tap. 1984 Embassy Pictures; now owned by MGM.
Starring: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Tony Hendra, David Kaff, R.J. Parnell, Jane Chadwick
Also appearing: Bruno Kirby, Ed Begley Jr., Fran Drescher, Dana Carvey, Billy Crystal, Howard Hesseman, Anjelica Huston
Director: Rob Reiner
Currently available at Amazon as a special edition DVD, or as part of the None More Black Collector's Set.

This is Spinal Tap is also Criterion #12.
Amazon listing: out of print; please keep an eye on eBay for available Criterion editions.

One of the all time great comedy films.

Rob Reiner appears as Marty DiBergi, who, in 1982, follows the legendary British heavy metal band Spinal Tap on their latest American tour to promote their new album Smell the Glove. We also learn quite a bit about the veteran band through interviews with singer and guitarist David St. Hubbins (McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Guest) who insists that his amplifiers go all the way up to eleven, and bassist Derek Smalls (Shearer). Spinal Tap originated as a pop group called The Thamesmen (among many other band names) in the '60s with their hit "Gimme Some Money" before embracing psychedelic pop with "Listen to the Flower People". Spinal Tap eventually evolved into heavy metal, joined by keyboardist Viv Savage (Kaff), and a plethora of drummers who all die under bizarre circumstances, ranging from a "bizarre gardening accident", to another drummer partying so hard that he manages to choke to death on someone else's vomit. DiBergi also learns that St. Hubbins and Tufnel are actually gifted composers and musicians, but still prefer playing sexist and dumb hard rock, as evidenced by a classical music piece composed by Tufnel entitled "Lick My Love Pump".

Most of the movie surrounds the seemingly doomed Smell the Glove tour, where numerous shows are cancelled due to low ticket sales, and the record itself is boycotted by numerous major retailers for its sexist and degrading album cover. The record is eventually released without the band's consent as an entirely black cover. Nigel Tufnel starts growing impatient when David St. Hubbins' girlfriend Jeanine (Chadwick) joins the tour, participating in band meetings, and trying to change the group's image and stage presentations. After some miscommunication sees the epic live performace of the song "Stonehedge" ruined by a dimunitive stage set, Tufnel accuses band manager Ian Faith (Hendra) of mismanagement. Faith quits when St. Hubbins suggests that Jeanine should co-manage the band. Nigel himself briefly leaves the group after the tour sees Spinal Tap booked into smaller and smaller venues, and the now Tufnel-less group starts performing really bad jazz fusion while regrouping. However, Spinal Tap is still wildly popular in Japan, and Faith would like to book a new tour there. Nigel returns for the final performance, and everyone has a great time.

This is Spinal Tap was not a theatrical hit, and many viewers were unaware that this was not a real documentary. In addition, a lot of real life musicians (Robert Plant, Dee Snider, Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Van Halen) didn't find any humor in the movie, as they went through genuine experiences like Spinal Tap did, although no one ever had a drummer spontaneously combust onstage during performance. Also, in the world of rock and roll, it's considered insulting to be told that a band is funnier than Spinal Tap.

This one gets eleven stars. Highly, highly, highly recommended.