Its probably not a good sign when you can’t remember the title of a movie when getting your ticket at the ticket desk. I’m sure the fellow at the desk was thinking what kind of idiot I was! In fact, I’d “won” the tickets to see Anvil! The Story of Anvil! entering some online competition (which I honestly can’t even remember doing) but you know a freebie is a freebie and its always good to expand your boundaries. I dragged Sandra along with me though I think after about five minutes into the movie I’m not sure she was thinking why on earth she agreed!

The movie opens with a concert – the music is loud (as you would expect for a metal band) and there’s headbanging and crazy goings on and then “Anvil.” Not have really appreciated heavy metal before I was at a lost as to whether this was a movie about an actual heavy metal band or some sort of Spinal Tap (a movie that I haven’t actually seen!) The characters and the story was so over the top and strange that it felt quite surreal but slowly it hit home that this was the true, and sad, story of an actual real Canadian heavy metal band.

The band is lead by a guy called “Lips” who is the sweetest guy you can imagine. Together with good buddy Robb Reinder, drummer, they paint a picture of a band desperate to make their dream come true. For 30 years the band has been striving to reach their goal. This passion and one-mindedness is admirable but in the end heart-breaking when it just doesn’t work out. The documentary (set in the year 2006) follows them as they embark first on a disastrous European tour which is set up by one of their biggest fans and second on a quest to get signed to a label at long last. I think the whole movie is summed up by one of the scenes where the band turn up for a gig in a stadium that could have fit tens of thousands but only forty people turn up. Truly heartbreaking. However, that is not to say that the movie doesn’t have moments of humour (let’s face it – without such moments I think the movie would have been truly dire!) Its lucky that all the members have extremely supportive and understanding friends and family.

If I had to sum up this movie I guess I would call it the unexpected feel good movie of the year. But don’t think that means the movie has any sort of Hollywood ending. It doesn’t. It is, however, moving, touching and heart-felt. I cried.