DOCUMENTARY; 1hr 20min
DIRECTED BY: Sacha Gervasi
Iron man: Kudlow (in 2005)
Ever heard of Anvil? The way-heavy-metal Canadian band that inspired a stack of other players (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer…)? No? You’re not alone. With their 1980s glory blip behind them, Anvil stayers and bestest of best friends, vocalist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner (Ivan Hurd and Glenn Five make up the latter-day line up), get by with humdrum weekday jobs while gigging for kicks in bars. Incredibly, the band get a nibble with a European tour that degenerates into scenes reminiscent of mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. Except that this is C-list reality and eagle-eyed director Sacha Gervasi, who is clearly in the Anvil corner, is right there for the up-and-down ride.
It’s wincingly funny at first to see middle-aged rockers floundering. But spend time with Lips, Robb and their families and their commitment to stardom becomes a moving testimony of belief. The question of when dedication can tip into delusion is intensely subjective. Admire them, or pity them (or maybe a bit of both), it takes a big, brave heart to find the strength to hang in.
