Note: I started reading this book a few days before The murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. It was difficult to finish the book, so my review will be brief.
The mocking continues. The sequel to the musical mocumentary, This is Spinal Tap, has been released. Now comes a book to take us back to the origins and making of the original film, told by director Rob Reiner, and stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. Spinal Tap is like The Big Lebowski or Animal House – you either get it or you don’t, there’s no in between.
A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever (2025, Simon & Shuster) is a worthwhile read, even for the non-Spinal Tap fan. The book is several things: the story of how the original movie came together, how real Rick stars saw the movie, an oral history by the Spinal Tap band members, and the impact of the film on the lives of Reiner, Guest, McKean and Shearer.
These are four talented and funny guys. It’s no accident how their careers crossed and they were drawn together by experiences and fate.
“This Is Spinal Tap has established itself as a significant part of our culture: first as a cult hit and then as a widely watched and rewatched classic. It pioneered a new narrative format, the mockumentary.” Indeed it did. Even some studio execs and filmmakers were fooled when they first saw film footage.
From a skit on a 1979 television show, to playing in front of 100,000 concertgoers at Glastonbury in 2009, and then release a sequel to the original film in 2025, Spinal Tap begs the question: how can a satirical band cross over into reality and have such a big life more than forty years later?
“We were recently asked the question ‘In what sentence of your obituary do you think This Is Spinal Tap will appear?’ Here’s what we said:
CHRIS, confidently: Fourth.
MICHAEL: What the fuck?
HARRY: First. But it’ll share space with The Simpsons.
ROB: Mine will be “Meathead kicks the bucket.” Then maybe Tap in the second or third sentence.”
Rest in Peace Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. 🙏🏻
Ticket 2 Ride 
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