Comedy fans, turn your excitement to 11 and drummers prepare for spontaneous combustion: This Is Spinal Tap is coming back to theaters.
The 1984 mockumentary, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer as the eponymous fictional hard-rock band, is being re-released this weekend in a 4K restoration in celebration of the movie’s 41st anniversary. It’s also a precursor to the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
A send-up of 1980s rock ’n’ roll excess, This Is Spinal Tap was a modest success upon release but has since become one of the most celebrated comedy movies of all-time. It currently sits atop Time Out’s list of the greatest comedy films ever made, and comes in at No. 78 on our ranking of the 100 best movies ever.
‘Sporting arguably the most quotable script in movie history,’ we wrote, ‘and some of the meatiest metal melodies this side of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, this is simply a perfect film: from the first chord of Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight to the very final line (“I dunno, what are the hours?”), there's literally nothing about it that could be improved.’
The restored and remastered version plays in theaters across America for a brief run, July 5-7.
As for the sequel, Reiner, along with all the main cast members, are returning to chart the run-up to the band’s farewell concert, which we’re sure will go off without a hitch. Announced cameos include Elton John, Paul McCartney and Garth Brooks. It’s set for worldwide release on September 12.
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