Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)
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Reviews Counted:122
Fresh:119
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.9/10
Consensus: A touching, uplifting and inspirational rockumentary about an aging metal band, both hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure.
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Reviews for Anvil! The Story of Anvil
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 4/5 |
The story of lifelong friends and wannabe heavy metal gods Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner is touching, sad, tragic and uplifting--often all at once. Full Review |
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4/5 |
What's so refreshing about 'Anvil: The Story of Anvil' is that it focuses on a Toronto band named Anvil who have been playing for 30 years despite having no commercial success to show for it. Full Review |
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 2/4 |
I found more real-life poetry about aspiration and failure in a fictional effort such as The Wrestler. Full Review |
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A |
This is one of those movies that makes you want to find out what happens next, and those are the best kind. Full Review |
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7/10 |
You'll learn nothing new here about chasing the dream, but this non-fiction story may convince you to make room in your heart to appreciate the combination of earnestness and doggedness that some people maintain. Full Review |
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A- |
Its touching human interest story about survival hit me in the gut. Full Review |
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Well, the best movie of 2009 is a documentary about aging heavy metal musicians making a last-ditch effort at fame and fortune. Full Review |
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3/4 |
Anvil! goes all the way to 11. Full Review |
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3/4 |
Let's be honest: Anvil is not metal's missing link, and "Anvil!" has been awfully overpraised. However, it's worth watching for the frequent moments of warm, humane heavy-metal comedy and the antagonistic push-and-pull of Canadian creative cousins. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Two musical wannabes in a perpetual reach for the brass ring. But where it will lead remains unanswered by anything more than what they've always had in great quantity. Hope. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Anvil is rock solid entertainment. Whether you're mad for metal or not, you'll find the band's talent, spirit, humor--and mettle--a real rush. Full Review |
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While it's undoubtedly comical and touching, a pall of middle-aged gloom hovers over the antics of Canada's longest surviving death metal band. Full Review |
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4/5 |
The music, heard in economical proportions, is secondary to the unexpectedly deep bond between its creators. Their story is an underdog's triumph that's difficult to deny. Full Review |
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4/5 |
See Anvil! if you love heavy metal, because these guys are legends. See Anvil! if you don't love heavy metal because this story is legendary. Full Review |
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3.5/5 |
This Is Spinal Tap was a mockumentary, but this is for real, a portrait of a band that was very influential on later metal bands, like Metallica, but who found the big time elusive. Full Review |
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A spectacular documentary that displays the camaraderie and passion these two musicians feel for their music in the face of continued rejection. Full Review |
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Anvil! has been described as the "real-life Spinal Tap", but it's sometimes more like a heavy metal remake of The Wrestler. Full Review |
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Incongruous, funny, unexpected and moving, Sacha Gervasi's film about the 80s band whose long career is anything but what we expect, is much more than a doco about a band Full Review |
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A- |
Anvil! The Story of Anvil is overflowing with honesty. It is fair to say that it is to metal what The Wrestler is to wrestling. It is brutal but, in a way, triumphant. Full Review |
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4/4 |
Comedy, drama, unforgettable characters, good music, and an underdog story. Don't miss it! Full Review |
CommentLatest News for Anvil! The Story of Anvil
September 01, 2009:
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"Anvil!" director Sacha Gervasi is working on his next project, a "twisted romantic comedy" titled "Henry's Crime." Keanu Reeves is attached to star. More...
April 09, 2009:
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This week at the movies, we've got a pop songbird (Hannah Montana the Movie, starring Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus), a mall cop (Observe and Report, starring Seth Rogen and Anna... More...
January 20, 2009:
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