Anvil ! The Story of Anvil 3.0***

ANVIL ! THE STORY OF ANVIL 3.0*** This documentary of Anvil (a Canadian heavy metal band) begins with testimonials from members of some of the biggest hard rock/ heavy metal bands of all time; from Guns n' Roses to Metallica. They are all united in their praise for Anvil, one group which served as an inspiration to each of them in the early 80s. Anvil shared the stage with Jon Bon Jovi and Whitesnake, and appeared to be destined to be just as successful as their peers. But it simply never happened.

It is hilarious, heartbreaking, touching, puzzling, and suspenseful. It's been called the "real life Spinal Tap," and these metal heads surely do walk the fine line between genius and stupid, but it's got so much more heart and humanity than just that. “Anvil” is about the unstoppable creative urge and the do-it-yourself-or-die-trying spirit. Lips and Robb, the two fiftysomething never-say-never- rockers at the heart of the film, are fascinating, lovable characters, half heroes, half fools, partly delusional, yet partly triumphant too. Lips and Robb have been playing music together since they were 14 and have kept Anvil ticking along, supporting themselves with menial jobs and persisting despite the exasperation of their friends and loved ones. They're good at what they do, they know it and love it and can't stop doing it, even though the music industry passed them over a long, long time ago. They caught all the bad breaks they possibly could, but they didn't let that stop them. This isn't a film about rock n roll, or about these two guys -- it really about all of us, our fears and dreams, our successes and failures, our shining moments and our stupid ones.
This certainly isn't your standard from rags to riches Hollywood melodrama…more of from rags to rags to rags etc…. but it's really fluid and well done. It doesn't matter if you have never heard of Anvil ( I had not), or the bands they inspired or even like the music (I have never been a fan of hard rock/heavy metal music, at all) – yet, this documentary makes it easy to be gripped and captivated by their story.
NOTE: This has been a limited release film and will be hard to find in any theatres…so wait for the DVD release or cable TV play time.
Clark