This Is Spinal Tap 1984

Janet Maslin, New York Times: It stays so wickedly close to the subject that it is very nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The material is consistently clever and funny, though ultimately the attitudes are too narrow to nourish a feature-length film. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The film is a composite of classic moments, all of which we sense could have happened to any of the classic heavy metal bands -- or at least to those whose members combined delusions of greatness with low I.Q.s. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The satire has a deft, wicked touch. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: For all its japes and jokes, the movie is really about exhaustion of the spirit: sitting in a bleak hotel suite at 4 a.m. with the bad taste of last night in the mouth and the feeling that tomorrow will not be a better day. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Reiner's brilliantly inventive script and smart visuals avoid all the obvious pitfalls, making this one of the funniest ever films about the music business. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: For music biz insiders, This Is Spinal Tap is a vastly amusing satire of heavy metal bands. Read more

Jessica Winter, Village Voice: This Is Spinal Tap doesn't pull punches... Read more