Watch Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Anvil! The Story of Anvil, released in 2008, is a documentary film that follows the journey and struggles of the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. This movie is a salute to a band that never gave up, despite the numerous obstacles that came its way, and went on to become a source of inspiration to many. The movie opens with archival footage of Anvil's early days when Robb Reiner and Steve 'Lips' Kudlow, the founding members of the band, met and started playing together. The story then moves to the present, where the band is still active, but not as successful as they once were. The band's members are now middle-aged men with families and day jobs, but they still hold a strong passion for music.

The documentary is directed by Sacha Gervasi, who himself was a teenage roadie for Anvil in the 1980s. He reunites with the band after 20 years and decides to document their latest tour of Europe. The aim of the tour is to promote their new album and re-establish their position as a prominent heavy metal band.

Throughout the film, the audience gets a closer look at the lives of the band members, their families, and their dedicated fans. The director delves into the emotional bond between Reiner and Kudlow, who have been playing together for more than 30 years. The duo's personalities are the exact opposite of each other, but their love for music keeps them together.

The movie shows how the music industry is not always fair, and the band struggled with finding new fans as well as signing new deals. The band members say that they were influenced by bands like Metallica and Anthrax, but they never got the same level of recognition. Nevertheless, they continued to play for their loyal fans and sought to stay true to their music.

The band members face many hardships throughout the film, such as low turnout at concerts, equipment failure, and financial troubles. They even had to sell their own possessions to fund their European tour. However, their passion and dedication kept them going, and they never lost sight of their love for heavy metal.

The documentary also shows some funny and awkward moments on tour, such as a gig they had where no one showed up, and a hilarious encounter with an Italian promoter who had trouble pronouncing their name. Despite these moments, the band continued to put on a great show, with Kudlow's unique voice and Reiner's powerful drumming.

The documentary comes to a climax when the band go to record their album in England, with the help of none other than Chris Tsangarides, who worked with legendary bands such as Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy. The tension builds as the band tries to create a great record while working through their differences.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a heartwarming story of a band that never gave up on their passion, and the bond between the members is evident throughout the film. The band's resilience is admirable, and their love for music is inspiring. The documentary reminds us that sometimes success is not about fame and fortune, but the joy of playing music and connecting with others through it.

In conclusion, Anvil! The Story of Anvil is an excellent film for music lovers, especially those who are fans of heavy metal. The movie is a powerful testament to the devotion and perseverance of the band's members, and it provides an honest and touching look into the music industry. It is a story of passion and perseverance, and it will inspire anyone who faces struggles in their own lives to push through and fight for their dreams.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 82.