 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
This Is Spinal Tap
- Review Date: October 30, 2005
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 1984
Common Sense Media says
Hilarious, ribald, drug-filled rock send-up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Spinal Tap is a fictional band, and Rob Reiner's classic "mockumentary" about them highlights their failure. There are moments when the language gets a bit heavy with curse words, but they tend to be short and sporadic. Violence and sex are almost non-existent except for the songs, which tend to be heavy with sexual innuendo. Lots of references to drugs and alcohol. But much of the humor will go right over younger kids' head.
What's the story?
In THIS IS SPINAL TAP, documentary filmmaker Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) follows the British heavy metal band Spinal Tap on their tour of North America in 1982. The band is besieged by bad luck (their drummers keep dying off under bizarre circumstances), poor taste, and questionable talent. The main members of the band, David (Michael McKean), Nigel (Christopher Guest), and Derek (Harry Shearer) are so over the top with their performances as rock stars that it's almost impossible for anyone to take them seriously, including their fans, their record company, and their manager(s).
Is it any good?
When This Is Spinal Tap was released, people truly thought it was a documentary about a real band. People would even come up to director Rob Reiner, telling him that he made a great documentary, but should have filmed a better-known band. But make no mistake, while Spinal Tap is a tragic failure of a band, this film is top quality humor.
This Is Spinal Tap is solid entertainment, especially for those who are huge fans of rock music. The film is mostly ad-libbed by the actors, who all give side-splitting performances. While watching this film, you can't help but cringe and laugh at the band members as they deal with repeated disappointment and disaster. Classic scenes include Nigel talking about amps that go up to 11, the band attempting to harmonize "Heartbreak Hotel" at the foot of Elvis's grave, and, of course, Stonehenge. Appropriate for rock music fans over the age of 13.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the difference between a documentary and a mockumentary. How can you tell which is which?
The movie can jump-start a great discussion about the role of marketing
in the music business. How much of their success (or lack thereof) does
Spinal Tap owe to marketing versus their own (clear lack of) talent?What is director Reiner trying to say to the audience about the music industry?
How does this movie's subject matter relate to the current pop music scene?
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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
A Great spoof of the Rock-n-Roll Life. I highly reccommend it!
Awesome movie! Most of the songs have sexual innuendo, but it is all stuff that you would only get if you are old enough to know about it. If you have a mature 13 year old its fine, but anyone younger probably shouldn't see this movie.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 29, 2011
AGE
Hilarious Film about life in a band
Make sure to know your child. some may not enjoy this film, but some, like me, will think its great.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 14 years old
May 6, 2009
AGE
This movie showing the funny side of heavy metal is first class! You get to know Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls, and every drummer that has lived and died for Spinal Tap also including all of Nigel Tufnel's favorite guitars. The only bad thing about this movie is the 23 f words, but they are short and infrequent usually execpt for a scene where they try to record in a studio and it has alot of f words so you can skip it. But all in all a hilarious movie from first to last for all 12 and up!
What other families should know:
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Teen, 16 years old
May 27, 2010
AGE
Takes the essen?ce of heavy metal and turns it up to eleven
Tufnel, St. Hubbins, and Smalls are some of the best people heavy metal has seen. Unfortunately...they're not real. This is one of the best mock-rockumentaries ever made. Of course, it's probably the only one. Spinal Tap - scratch that, Spin?al Tap - is England's loudest band, and you get to learn all about them in this amazing, amazing movie. When it was described that one of the drummers died from choking on someone else's vomit (as opposed to his own), I laughed until I cried. There are certainly many other parts in this film that are laugh-out-loud hilarity, including a famous scene involving a replica of Stonehenge used as a stage prop. Not to mention, it's fairly mild for an R-rated film. The songs have lots of innuendo, such as "Big Bottom", "Hell Hole" and "Sex Farm" (which [SPOILER ALERT] is a big hit in Japan). One of the band members is stopped by airport security for having a foil-wrapped pickle down his tight pants. Yeah, that's totally not suggestive. However, in a world where the sexual hijinks of, say, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen can get a PG-13, this is quite tame. The only major reason Spin?al Tap is rated R is because of the bad language. There are about 30 f-bombs throughout the film, and about half of them are used in an argument in a recording studio. Overall, if you want to be cheered up, This Is Spin?al Tap will do the job. Anyone over 12 could see this movie.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 12 years old
July 26, 2011
AGE
Another Mistake
WRONG AGAIN! It should be 17 NOT 14.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
I love these types of movies!
The big problem in this movie is the language. There is a lot of cursing. However, if you are into music I recommend you see this. It is funny.
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Parent of 3, 6, and 8 year old
March 27, 2012
AGE
It will give you a good laugh.
One of the best movies i ever saw,but i wouldn't double dog dare let my kids see it.Too much sex,and swearing.
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Parent of 6 year old
August 29, 2012
AGE
spinal tap
Families can talk about the difference between a documentary and a mockumentary. How can you tell which is which?
The movie can jump-start a great discussion about the role of marketing
in the music business. How much of their success (or lack thereof) does
Spinal Tap owe to marketing versus their own (clear lack of) talent?
What is director Reiner trying to say to the audience about the music industry?
How does this movie's subject matter relate to the current pop music scene?
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
December 25, 2012
AGE
funny mockumentary follows fake band, has profanity
a hilarious, explicit, but truly funny fake documentary about a fake band has a lot of humor, but is too profane for little rock fans. there is no violence at all, except for a man breaking things with a cricket bat. but there is lots of F words and sexual innuendo in their songs. the members also smoke a bit.
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Rob Reiner |
| Cast: | Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 83 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 1, 1984 |
| DVD release date: | September 12, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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