2009 (Sacha Gervasi) 14A, 80 min

Uplifting, inspirational and touching are hardly the words one would normally use to describe a heavy metal rocku-documentary but it’s hard to get away from some of those words after watching Anvil! Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, after founding the band in Toronto as teenagers in 1973, recording the minor hit “Metal on Metal” that influenced mega stars Metallica, Motorhead. Guns ’n’ Roses in the early ’80s, are still optimistically following their dream and their spot in the sun in the face of Sisyphean odds. Director Sacha Gervasi (an ex-roadie for the band) follows the men on their European tour that’s so filled with misadventures that it’s hard not to fall into a Spinal Tap scenario and think this is all “mock” and no “doc”. Archival footage anchors the reality of the Canadian band that could never quite turn that corner past a brief ’80s brush with fame and make it big. Throughout, Gervasi manages to convey a very human portrait of passion, sacrifice, survival and the relationships created without sinking into the maudlin. (The co-dependent friendship between Kudlow and Reiner is fascinating). This film may be the spark that revives their career. Anvil is opening for AC/DC south of the border on July 28. Rock on.