Anvil: The Story of Anvil follows a commercially unsuccessful but influential Canadian heavy metal band having one last shot at their dreams. This may be a documentary, but it plays out like a fiction film. It's got compelling characters, a great message and a satisfying story, so it will work even for those who aren't documentary fans. ATSOA is an unexpectedly solid work. Both in terms of the story's conclusion and documentary filmmaking, it's a triumph. It's also funny and unexpectedly moving. I have a confession: The scene at the end where the band go to a gig and find a huge cheering audience, which is what they were desperately hoping for throughout the entire film, nearly moved me to tears. A documentary about a heavy metal band had that emotional effect. In general, it's a really strong documentary. It tells the story well, it's well made, it gets the information across clearly and it manages to keep you interested throughout. Plus, it's only 80 minutes so it doesn't outstay its welcome.It won't necessarily be the most compelling thing for all audience members and many of the scenes feel overly similar to one another. As a result, the film gains a slightly repetitive feel, but it rises above this. It's unexpectedly tough viewing and quite sad in parts, but it's uplifting in the end. It also makes you want to try Anvil's music and the band members are far more likable and compelling than many a movie character. Your attention may wander at times, but this is a documentary that is definitely worth your time and also stands out as a very fine film about rock and roll. Most impressively of all, it's an affecting and uplifting drama with full developed characters, an entertaining story arc, humour and genuine filmmaking skill yet none of it is staged and it's all real life. This is easily more compelling than much of what Hollywood does, and there's not an explosion in sight.8/10

"The Story Of Anvil" is a funny, yet touching "rockumentary" about a Canadian heavy metal band that somehow "missed" the boat to success in the early 80's. Myself being a metalhead in my mid 40's I remember reading lots about these guys, yet for some reason, their records were always hard to find and their music mag interviews were scarce. Musically, Anvil played heavy metal stylistically close to New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)bands such as Saxon, Iron Maiden, Tank, Angel Witch and Motörhead. Those bands were predating the more successful (and more musically extreme) thrash metal movement heralded by Metallica and the rest of the big four. Their most known album, "Metal On Metal" was a decent stab at worldwide success, yet it was a flash in the pan and quickly faded away. With this documentary, those who've heard or knew of Anvil before will finally know the reasons of their falling by the wayside. Although rock and metal fans (and especially musicians) will no doubt enjoy the film, broader audiences will also enjoy the perils the band goes through as they struggle to get their much sought out recognition. There are some very touching moments that have nothing to do with metal and this makes the movie appealing to audiences abroad. For Lips (the band's singer and lead guitar player) and Robb (the drummer) what's more fulfilling than money is the recognition and the acclaim. We're talking middle aged men here, guys that are easily 5 years older than your James Hetfields and Lars Ulrichs, yet their passion for music has gotten stronger. Their story is the story of countless of bands with talent that never got that "golden opportunity". Where as in "This Is Spinal Tap" we laugh at the circumstances, with "The Story Of Anvil" there are moments where you could almost cry, and for those who are musicians in the making or road veterans it will hit you as hard as a freight train.I am sure with this documentary, Anvil the band got more popular than ever and hopefully they will take advantage of this opportunity. If you're a true music fan you will surely enjoy this really entertaining documentary!

This was a real movie, with a story, an arc and an uplifting message. Seeing these good old boy canuck-heads in my home town of Toronto, slugging it out for their dreams in their 50s was something really close to my heart. The characters are real down to earth sweethearts with great personalities and good souls and you can't help but root for them and wish them some measure of success through all the hard work and struggles they have to endure in their lifelong quest.The ending had me as close to tears as I ever get for movies. It was so poetic, touching and fulfilling. Perhaps the makers tweaked reality a little bit for the desired effect, but it worked, dammit. I was moved. And I don't even like heavy metal.If you only watch one metal band doc in your life, make it this one.

Before this film, I had only briefly heard of Anvil by thumbing through old metal records in my search for bands that had escaped mainstream eyes. I never much gave them a listen, and it wasn't until a few years ago when I saw Anvil: The Story of Anvil that I went back after viewing the documentary, so I could listen to their tunes. Have I been sleeping! As a metal fan, it's a shame I had never discovered Lips and the crew before because they are true, old school, tongue licking, brain rocking heavy metal.Since the late 1970s, Anvil have influenced many other great metal bands, some who reminisce on the band's early performances, their edgy sound, and the dirty, saucy songs they wrote throughout this documentary. For whatever the final reason, Anvil never became commercially successful the way people like Slash, or bands such as Metallica, Anthrax, and Twisted Sister did; they spiralled into years of making monetarily unsuccessful albums on their own, and playing whatever gigs they could manage to get. All the while, many of the bands they influenced with their stage performances and gritty tunes were out touring all over the globe and back again. However, Lips (real name- Steve Kudlow) and Robb (Reiner) never ever gave up on their dream, and continued to rock on as the only solid members of Anvil to stay the entire course. This documentary picks up as the boys get contacted by a European fan who basically offers to be their manager, and wants to help arrange a tour of shows in Europe for somewhere around 1500 Euros a night (or so she says). What follows is a very disheartening tour where they are late for gigs, delayed here and there, and generally followed by an air of discontent; at one point, Reiner even refuses to play and says he will quit the band, but Lips convinces his oldest best friend to stick it out. These guys have taken time off work for five weeks, and make little-to-no money whatsoever. It almost feels like Anvil is doomed. Lips, though, still feels the passion, and so does Reiner. Lips sends Chris "CT" Tsangarides (a producer they had previously worked with many years ago) a demo tape of their new album called This is Thirteen; CT calls Lips back, and says it has potential, but they still need funds to make it all happen. Lips tries to do telemarketing with the help of a very enthusiastic lifetime fan of Anvil, but cannot even produce one sale; this part was especially sad, as even though Lips holds another job, we get a glimpse at how rockers feel when not on the stage, and forced to go to work just like the rest of us (Lips is a man who knows only music; it feels to me he is compromising himself by working a regular job, and that's why this scene is particularly depressing). An emotional visit with his sister yields a great opportunity for Lips and his band: she gives him what I understood to be around $10,000 to help him make the album. This is where we see the true spirit of Anvil begin to shine, and even though there are still arguments, fights, scraps- the band pushes to achieve their dream.In the end, Lips and Reiner travel with Anvil back to Japan where the film began in 1984 at the Super Rock Festival. Now, they find they are booked for 11:30am to play, and Lips immediately begins wondering how they came so far to simply be booked for a morning show. With all routes looking to lead towards more disaster for Anvil, they take the stage in front of a massive crowd of people DYING to see them, and proceed to rock their fans from beginning to end of their set. You can almost see the fire return to Lips and Reiner, as they finally have made it back to the huge stage in Japan where they once played with the Scorpions, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and many other big names. I give this film a 10 out of 10 because not only is it a well-documented film about the trials and tribulations of Anvil as a band, but also it showcases what the human spirit is all about: never giving in. The ability to get knocked down before getting back up each and every time they fall is something Lips and Reiner are both masters at; they falter, but never do they fall flat on their face. Every moment is just another moment for redemption. Highly recommended.Just a note- whenever I feel down, or like life isn't giving me a fair shake, I throw on The Story of Anvil, and I'm reminded just who the real heroes are. Those are the times I'm reminded that determination really is everything; it's not just some tired cliché. It's truth.