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1The laughs in this film go to eleven.
2
3* "... these go to eleven."
4** The film's current score on IMDB is 7.9/'''11'''.[[note]]Although unfortunately you can't actually give it an 11.[[/note]]
5* Nigel writhing around on his back playing a shredder of a solo...and then unable to get up.
6* The BlackComedy of all the ridiculous ways the band's various drummers have died, including bizarre gardening accidents, spontaneous combustion, and choking on vomit (but apparently not their OWN vomit).
7-->'''Nigel''': You can't really dust for vomit.
8* Creator/BrunoKirby as a chauffeur holding up a sign looking for "SPINAL PAP".
9** Creator/FredWillard as an air-force lieutenant welcoming "SPINAL TARP."
10* Nigel plays a beautiful classical piece on the piano:
11-->'''Marty''': What do you call this?\
12'''Nigel''': Well, this piece is called "Lick My Love Pump."
13* The band discusses with manager Ian their disastrous performance of "Stonehenge":
14--> '''David''': I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem ''may'' have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being ''crushed'' by a ''dwarf''. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.\
15'''Ian''': I really think you're just making much too big a thing out of it.\
16'''Derek''': Making a big thing out of it would have been a good idea.
17** And after the manager has quit:
18--->'''Derek''': ''[sober]'' Can I raise a practical question at this point?\
19'''David''': What?\
20'''Derek''': ''[innocently]'' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Are we gonna do "Stonehenge" tomorrow?]]\
21'''David''': ''No, we're not gonna [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] do "Stonehenge".''
22** And for that matter, the actual "Stonehenge" performance. Even though the scene before pretty much announces what's coming in huge neon letters, the actual payoff (complete with dwarfs earnestly dancing around it) somehow manages to be the funniest visual gag you've ever seen. David and Nigel's look of disbelief when the set descends really sells it. Ian's smug grin is the cherry on top.
23* Nigel showing Marty around his guitar collection and demanding that Marty listen to the awesomely long sustain on his '59 Gibson Les Paul--of which there isn't any at that moment, because it's not actually being played and is resting on a guitar stand. When Marty says he can't hear anything, Nigel, after a beat, replies "You ''would'', though, if it were playing."
24** Marty isn't allowed to look too long at Nigel's prized Fender VI, or even point at it.
25* Epitaph: "Here Lies David St. Hubbins. And Why Not?".
26* It's not just that the song "Big Bottom" features Derek playing a ludicrous double-headed bass. It's that Nigel and David are also playing basses for the song.
27* "It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black."
28* Derek trying to get through airport security with a foil-wrapped cucumber in his pants.
29* The band getting lost trying to find the stage (while already in the arena).
30** They meet a maintenance man who gives them extremely convoluted directions to the stage. Not 30 seconds after they set off following his directions, they double back and end up exactly where they started.
31--> "Rock and roll!"
32* At Elvis's grave:
33--> '''Nigel''': Well, it really puts a perspective on things, though doesn't it?\
34'''David''': Too much! There's too much fucking perspective now!
35* At the air force base...
36-->'''Air Force Lieutenant:''' If I could just ask you to play some slow songs so I can dance?\
37''[[GilliganCut [cut to the band playing]]]''\
38'''David''': Working on a SEX FARM!
39** Made all the funnier by the fact that this ''was'' a fairly slow song--by their standards, anyway!
40** And then their audio equipment somehow manages to pick up on random radio transmissions from the base's aircraft control tower and a radio broadcast. This causes Nigel [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere to quit the performance]] right then and there.
41*** It happens ''again'' during the triumphant ending. In the DVD Commentary, David sighs that they should have gone hard-wire.
42* A meta-example: All of the stories from bands who claim that the film is way too close to reality.
43* Another meta-example: Tony Hendra (Ian) once told a story about getting into a cab with [[TheStoner a drugged-out driver]] who claimed that he used to be into "Tap" until they made the documentary and sold out. Just think about how much drugs you have to be on to genuinely believe that.
44* The DVD commentary is arguably funnier than the movie. The bands most pointed barbs are at Marty, Ian, and poor Viv.
45-->'''Nigel:''' ''(when Viv grotesquely mugs at the camera)'' That was Viv's passport photo.\
46'''David:''' ''(laughing)'' That's cruel! ''({{beat}})'' You know he couldn't afford a passport.
47** Earlier:
48--->'''David:''' Did Viv ever know his microphone wasn't plugged in?\
49'''Derek:''' If you ever start a sentence "Did Viv ever know", the answer is always...\
50'''All:''' ''(ad libbing)'' No.
51** All of the snarking Nigel makes at Jeanine's expense on the commentary.
52--->'''Nigel:''' She should have never left Chiswick.\
53''(later)''\
54'''Nigel:''' What are you talking about? She had an agenda before she was ''born''.\
55''(later)''\
56'''Nigel:''' I think she was setting herself up, to say, "Highest bidder."\
57''(later)''\
58'''Nigel:''' I heard she was writing a children's book... it's called "A Stretch Mark Named Mischa".
59*** Later, Nigel admits he did get along with her for 10 minutes.
60---->'''David:''' She said it was more like 6.
61** The various wardrobes, such as Nigel wearing yellow jeans.
62--->'''David:''' ''(on Derek in the final scene)'' I just want you all to know that Derek is wearing the same top that Leslie Caron wore in ''Lili''!
63** During the scene with Mick taking a bath:
64--->'''David:''' This was Mick's only recorded bath.
65** When Mick takes a violent tumble into his drum set:
66--->'''Nigel:''' ''(deadpan)'' [[{{Irony}} Oh. He could have been killed.]]
67* When Nigel complains about the miniature sandwich bread.
68--> '''Nigel''': It's a complete catastrophe.
69* The two word review of their album ''Shark Sandwich'': "Shit Sandwich."
70** What sells it is David and Nigel's laughing reaction, disputing magazines aren't allowed to say that.[[note]]Which is untrue, since Magazine/RollingStone has had profanity in their magazine. In addition, Music/QuietRiot claimed that one of their bad reviews was also a two word review.[[/note]]
71* Ian accidentally guessing correctly that the hotel concierge is gay.
72-->'''Concierge:''' [[IAmWhatIAm I am what God made me, sir.]]
73** In the MGM DVD Commentary, the band claimed the manager was a StalkerWithACrush, visiting their rooms late at night.
74* One of the concerts has the band members coming out of giant plastic blue clamshells in the beginning of the song, but Derek's shell malfunctions and fails to open. After numerous attempts by the technicians to unlock it (including loudly banging it with a hammer in time with the song), it eventually opens and Derek emerges... but by that time the song has already ended, and the other musicians are retreating back into their shells which close up again. Derek tries quickly retreating back into his shell and ends up with his arm caught inside.
75* David's claim there really was a St. Hubbins -- he was apparently "the saint of quality footwear".
76* Artie Fufkin asking the band to kick his ass after no one shows up to the in-store appearance. In the MGM Commentary, Derek admits Artie had a nice butt. David mentions he'd started his own company, [[{{Squick}} Smegma]] Records. [[invoked]]
77* The grotesquely cheerful "Saturn" shirt Jeanine makes for David, forcing him to wear it on the bus. In the MGM Commentary, Nigel brings up the fact that if you squeezed Saturn, it made a toy noise.
78* Derek mouthing "We love you" during the sitar solo in "Listen to the Flower People". In the MGM Commentary, Derek claims he accidentally said "We lug you."
79* The last line of the film is Nigel speculating he'd enjoy working in a haberdasher or chapeau shop. When asked if he thought he would be happy doing that, he gormlessly replied, "I don't know, what're the hours?"

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