This Is Spinal Tap

This is spinal tap film thumb

This Is Spinal Tap

With specially recorded introductions from Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) and Sir Michael Palin

Date: Weds 15 Feb 2023
Time: 20:30 hrs
Venue: The former Bristol Imax Cinema, Bristol Aquarium
Price: £10 adults / £5 under 16
Dir: Rob Reiner
USA (1984), 82 mins, cert 15

Included in the Slapstick 2023 line-up at the express request of guest curator Sir Michael Palin, who chose the film as his favourite film comedy, Rob Reiner’s 11 out of 10 deserving mockumentary is a scathing lampoon of every heavy metal band that’s ever taken itself too seriously and of rock music documentaries in general.

With a sequel reportedly on the way (with Reiner again in charge and Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer reprising their characters) there’s no better time to revel in this big-screen outing of a film hailed by Rotten Tomatoes critics as “Smartly directed, brilliantly acted, and packed with endlessly quotable moments … an all-time comedy classic.”

With video introductions from Sir Michael and from Harry Shearer, whose many film and TV credits include playing the band’s bassist Derek Smalls and voicing multiple characters in The Simpsons,

RUNNING TIME APPROX 1 hrs 30 mins.

This is spinal tap film
spinal tap Derek Smalls Harry Shearer