Anvil – The Story of Anvil
VH1
www.anvilthemovie.com

Rating: A

Anvil were founded by childhood friends Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner at age 14.  The best friends made a pact to always rock together.  Against all odds, they have kept their pact.  Despite marriages, families, record companies screwing them over, boring day jobs and some brutally vicious verbal and physical fights, Anvil is still surviving today. 

Director Sacha Gervasi knew Anvil and even traveled with them back in the day.  As time went by, the director began reminiscing about his friends in Anvil and wondered what ever happened to them.  He was surprised to find that the band was still playing and recording.  He discovered that his long lost friends possessed a love of music and friendship that is rare in this day and age.  Anvil has continued on when many, even family members, felt they should not.  Sacha discovered a story about a band that would not give up.  He discovered two friends who, against all odds, still believed they could make it.  That is not to say that Robb and Lips didn’t have times when they wanted to throw in the towel.  As the movie shows, there were plenty of reasons for having second doubts.

Aside from the Spinal Tap like existence of Anvil, the movie tells a romantic tale of two men who dare to dream.  Anvil always seem to see the silver lining, even when no one does. Lips is the type of guy, who as a kid, would have smiled while shoveling a room full of horse shit because he figured there must be a pony in there somewhere.   

The members of Anvil are childlike yet they stand up to badgering critics, unscrupulous club owners and even to themselves.  They take risks even when they are destined to fail.  They put their faith in inexperienced people to book them world tours and then look back fondly on their experiences.   

Anvil influenced Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and many other Metal bands.  While many of those who came after them have reaped fame and fortune, Anvil has remained mired in obscurity.  Lips and Robb damn near made it in 1982 when they released the song “Metal On Metal” and played guitar solos in front of thousands using a dildo as a slide.  The key word here is ‘almost.’  While it would have been easy to go by the saying, “Every dog has its day,” Anvil pushed ahead, believing sincerely that there best days were ahead of them.     

The Story of Anvil is a must-see movie for fans of Heavy Metal, as well as anyone who wants to be inspired.  Lips and Robb run the gamut of human emotions and show sheer determination and true belief that dreams do come true.   

If you build it, then they will indeed come, but in Anvil’s case it sure took a hell of a long time.