(Sacha Gervasi, US 2008, 90 min.)

A real-life Spinal Tap, this hilarious and surprisingly touching new documentary takes us on the road for a reunion tour with Toronto-based heavy metal legends Anvil. “The Demi-Gods of Canadian Metal” were briefly a musical force to be reckoned with, and their 1982 album, Metal on Metal, influenced countless bands from Metallica to Anthrax. Now, they’re even having trouble collecting their pay after playing dingy bars in Europe. The up-and-down friendship of high school buddies and bandmates Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner (no relation to the Spinal Tap director) is at the heart of this headbanging gem, an instant classic for those who were ever a part of the big hair and spandex generation.