Anvil! The Story of Anvil
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Memorable music doc on Canadian metal band; lots of cursing.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL begins in 1982, when a Canadian heavy metal band called Anvil released their debut album, "Metal on Metal." They appeared to be on the verge of success, growing a devoted worldwide following and inspiring musicians in bands such as Guns n' Roses, Metallica, and Anthrax. But now, 25 years later, as many of their contemporaries went on to attain incredible success, Anvil plays the bar circuit in the Ontario hinterlands. They work day jobs because their music does not pay the bills. And as they enter their 50s, founding members Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner do their best to maintain hope and optimism despite disastrous tours, music industry indifference, and the opinions of some in their families that it just might be time to pack it in, move past teenage dreams, and face up to the realities of adulthood. But when the producer of their first album expresses the desire to work with them once again after receiving their demo in the mail and liking what he heard, hope springs anew, and Lips and Robb must find a way to get the money together to fly to England where the producer lives, record what they believe to be their best music to date, and find the ears of the heavy metal-listening public-at-large.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is a testament to the kind of quixotic perseverance required to maintain a lengthy career playing in rock and roll. There are many touring musicians out there who will say that the classic mockumentary This is Spinal Tap is, for all its comedy, the most too-real depiction of the absurdities of life on the road. Anvil! The Story of Anvil comes close, and the connections between the two films, in the comedy of errors, in the unstoppable perseverance, in the arguments between lifelong friends and founding Anvil members Lips and Robb, appear to be a deliberate move on the part of the filmmakers, but the final takeaway is an awe-inspiring sense of just how hard these guys continue to work and sacrifice to pursue their passion.
Neither fawning nor contemptuous, the documentary presents the viewer with the eternal quandary of anyone committed to their lifelong dream in endeavors seen by most as a "young person's game": to put away the proverbial zebra-striped spandex pants for good and accept the demands and responsibilities of adulthood at the cost of personal happiness, or continue to pursue what could be an eternally elusive dream and descend into self-parody? The exploration of this theme makes this movie worthwhile even to those who couldn't care less about heavy metal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about music documentaries. How is Anvil! The Story of Anvil similar to and different from other music documentaries?
How does this movie show the challenges many working musicians face in both their professional and personal lives?
At the beginning of the documentary, and interspersed throughout the rest, there are testimonials from heavy metal musicians who found the success that has always eluded Anvil. How do these testimonials add context and show how influential they were to some?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 10, 2008
- On DVD or streaming: October 6, 2009
- Cast: Robb Reiner, Steve, Lars Ulrich
- Director: Sacha Gervasi
- Studio: VH1 Films
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Run time: 77 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: April 16, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate