This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Spinal Tap, one of England’s loudest bands, is chronicled by film director Marty DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour. (IMDb)

Perfectly crafted comedic mockumentary fare: Smartly added to the expected deadpan ridiculousness (dying drummers; “This goes to 11”) is an ultra-serious filmmaker (Reiner’s straight-face in the sit-down band interview is perfect) and an ample amount of expertly acted mundane-day-in-the-life scenes that cements the film’s realistic atmosphere and just makes the band’s outlandish stage antics, delightfully dumb Brit-accented dialogue, and past-their-prime misfortune all the more hilarious.

8/10 (Great)