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From: leeper@ahutb.UUCP (m.r.leeper)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: THIS IS SPINAL TAP (non-spoiler)
Message-ID: <660@ahutb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Apr-85 08:06:02 EST
Article-I.D.: ahutb.660
Posted: Fri Apr 12 08:06:02 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Apr-85 00:06:24 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
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                             THIS IS SPINAL TAP
                      A film review by Mark R. Leeper

     Ringo Starr was once asked in an interview, "Why do you [ the Beatles]
write music?"  His response was, " Well, if we didn't, we'd be fookin'
unemployed."  And there you have the essence of THIS IS SPINAL TAP.  This
pseudo-documentary examines the lives and personalities of the four boys who
play for the fictitious rock group Spinal Tap.  Separately they are just
four British lads trying to make a living.  Together they are true
mediocrity.  We see them sharing each other's lives, sharing each other's
music, and sharing about 300 IQ points among them.

     Now I don't know much about rock music and I was told I would not
appreciate many of the gags of the film.  Bull!  This is a funny film even
if you've never heard of rock music.  You only have to appreciate seeing
pompous, self-important people making fools of themselves.  Even if you have
never been to a rock concert, you can appreciate seeing stage props
lampooned, or the weird rock performers exaggerated just enough to look
completely absurd.  This film has some very funny running gags and some
really off-the-wall ideas.  The last film that had me laughing like this was
A CHRISTMAS STORY, and that was 16 months ago!  I won't detract from the
film by giving away any of the gags, but I will say I got a good ten or
twelve belly laughs from the film.  Watch for THIS IS SPINAL TAP.  It's a +2
film on the -4 to +4 scale.

                                        Mark R. Leeper
                                        ...ihnp4!ahutb!leeper
But, on May 1, I become                 ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper
(And I thought it was tough pronouncing ahutb!)