Metal on Metal.

So, it recently occurred to me that in spite of seeing the film several weeks ago, I have yet to properly weigh in on Anvil! The Story of Anvil.  Of course, by now the movie has become a bit of a indie phenomenon and the band has been invited to play with the likes of AC/DC.  

But for those who might not be familiar, the film revolves around the lives of Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, a pair of Canadian metalheads who founded Anvil at the dawn of the 1980s, just as heavy metal was hitting its stride. While the band is considered influential by the likes of Metallica, they were never able to attain the heights of the bands they influenced, somehow getting passed by during metal’s heyday.  The film briefly recaps their history, only to find them presently working dreary day jobs yet still striving to reach the levels of success that somehow never presented themselves after nearly 30 years in the biz.

Far more poignant than the average “rockumentary”, the movie is filled with genuine emotional highs and lows and you can’t help but root for Lips and Robb to somehow succeed, no matter how unlikely it might seem for a couple of guys in their 50s who still sport long scraggly hair and wear leather jackets.  The movie is an exemplification of  the “never say die” attitude that is synonymous with heavy metal.  Metalheads are some of the most dedicated, passionate people out there, and in addition to telling the individual stories of Lips and Robb, it shines a spotlight on the metal spirit of perseverance  and survival that few in the mainstream are likely to be familiar with.

Whether or not this is lost on the critics and mainstream media that have embraced the film remains to be seen, but even still, Anvil! offers something for all of us, regardless of our musical tastes or backgrounds.  From the band’s misadventure of a European tour to the final climactic gig in Japan, the film captures one the most entertaining stories of rock ‘n’ roll dreams ever told.  Highly recommended.