Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009

©Brent J. Craig / ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL

This is a sweet and funny rocumentary about an obscure Toronto heavy metal band whose two lead members swore when they were 14 that they were going to make it big. After one moderately successful album in the ’80s, well… Robb Reiner and Steve “Lips” Kudlow are now in their 50s and working on their 13th self-marketed album, “their best yet.” They’re still playing before audiences sometimes numbering in the dozens, when they’re not delivering school lunches or working other odd jobs. Their music is good, as far as I can tell, their fans are loyal if not legion, their families supportive. They’re nice guys. Maybe that’s the problem. Or perhaps it was the poor management, bad record labels, or just being Canadian. Too polite. Anyway, this movie—by a former Anvil roadie—manages to be hilariously funny without making fun of Steve and Robb. It’s also inspirational and hopeful against the ever-lengthening odds these guys face. Ah, but when they’re on stage, there’s this something that makes it hard to call them failures. This is the heart of rock ‘n’ roll. Residents of Japan will get a special kick.

[trailer]FF4H8lB2Y_o[/trailer]