I Finally Watched Spinal Tap, And Now These 6 Jokes Actually Make Sense

Up until now, something I’ve been hesitant to confess is that I hadn’t previously watched “This Is Spinal Tap.” Despite countless recommendations over the years about its hilarity and top-tier status among music movies, I finally found myself ready to appreciate Rob Reiner’s absurd mockumentary focusing on a declining metal band. With “Spinal Tap II: The Saga Continues” slated for release in 2025, I thought it was about time I gave it a go.

It came as no surprise to anyone, even myself, that Spinal Tap turned out to be one of the most enjoyable movies, music, and comedy experiences I’ve had in a while. Laughing along with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Reiner’s characters on screen was just the beginning – finally, I understood the backdrop for so many of the film’s jokes. Here are six that particularly resonated…

‘These Go To 11’

In a film that’s barely over 90 minutes, “This Is Spinal Tap” is packed with humor! Even though I’ve watched the famous “These go to 11” scene where Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest) demonstrates his unique guitar and amp settings to documentarian Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) numerous times, I hadn’t experienced it in its movie context before. Why would you leave out such an essential part?

This iconic scene from the music movie is hilarious for a single instance, but after spending roughly an hour witnessing Nigel and other band members grapple with maintaining their stardom, wealth, and significance in a rapidly evolving society, it resonates even more intensely and powerfully. It’s undeniably one of the most preposterously smart comedy sequences ever created, as it skillfully navigates the delicate balance between the absurd and the heartfelt.

‘He Died. He Died In A Bizarre Gardening Accident’

It’s not uncommon for people to make light-hearted remarks about me ending up in some unusual gardening mishap. But after viewing the film “This Is Spinal Tap,” I now understand why everyone has been raving about it. The part where the band discusses their history of drummer troubles, particularly the end of John “Stumpy” Pepys (played by Ed Begley Jr.), is simply hilarious.

The absurd account of Pepys perishing in a peculiar gardening mishap, an incident police suggested was best left unexplored without even a hint of amusement, is one of the most hilarious movie moments I’ve encountered. It’s incredible that the actors managed to keep a straight face; perhaps it too should remain unsolved. Moreover, Mick Shrimpton (played by R.J. Parnell) erupting at the end for the “dead drummer” joke is worth all the laughter points.

‘This Miniature Bread’

Every time Nigel Tufnel appeared on screen, I was confident something fantastic was imminent. However, unbeknownst to me initially, the humor surrounding the “tiny loaf,” where the guitarist struggles to make a small sandwich without it crumbling, turned out to be one of the most delightful parts of my viewing. This scene begins by mocking rock stars and their extravagant dressing room requests, only to escalate into increasingly absurd situations over the next few minutes.

One amusing rewording: Watching Manager Ian Faith (Tony Hendra) guide Nigel on crafting a mini-sandwich by folding the filling instead of the bread was incredibly strange and humorously reminiscent of a frustrated parent trying to teach a stubborn child how to eat, rather than two mature individuals discussing just minutes before a major concert. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter as Nigel crumbled each slice of bread in his hands, which was so absurd that even my kids felt compelled to check on me.

‘I Feel My Role In The Band Is To Be In The Middle Of That, Kind Of Like Lukewarm Water’

Despite Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins stealing many memorable scenes, it’s another character that had me laughing harder – none other than Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap’s bassist. He was at the heart of some of the film’s wildest moments!

Instead of dwelling on the “Rock n Roll Creation” scene where Derek gets stuck in a pod for much of the act, let’s revisit a more understated moment when he reflects on his role within the band. Using water as a metaphor, Derek describes himself as “lukewarm water,” contrasting the fiery and icy dynamic between Nigel and David. This self-assessment, delivered with a mix of poignancy and madness, is something I find particularly intriguing.

‘What’s Wrong With Being Sexy?’

The events portrayed in the film “Smell the Glove” within “This Is Spinal Tap” possibly sparked Metallica to adopt a completely black cover for their 1991 self-titled album, but without a doubt, it resulted in some of the most hilarious scenes throughout the movie. When the band learns that their record label won’t release the album with its original artwork due to it being deemed sexist, Nigel delivers a memorable reaction by expressing his perplexity and saying, “What’s so wrong about being sexy?” in an entirely honest manner.

In either case, whether Nigel confused “sexist” with “sexy” or wasn’t aware of their differences, his misunderstanding transforms an already amazing scene into something legendary. It’s said that a significant portion of this movie was improvised, which only adds to Guest’s reaction, making it more outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny.

‘Mime is Money’

Lastly, there’s the amusing “mime is money” scene starring Billy Crystal, one of his funniest moments. I had a vague recollection of this quick exchange before viewing This Is Spinal Tap, but witnessing Crystal and Dana Carvey’s interaction in full brought uncontrollable laughter to the party scene, making it even more enjoyable.

In my opinion, what could’ve elevated this scene further is if all the cut mime sequences had been included. Reiner did an excellent job with his first directorial attempt. One particular scene, involving Crystal’s mime and Bruno Kirby as Tommy Pischedda, a limo driver, was quite funny. It would have been a delight to watch on the big screen a few years before they shared scenes together in When Harry Met Sally.

I’m really happy I eventually got around to watching “This Is Spinal Tap”, and I promise not to delay watching the sequel once it hits theaters on September 12.

2025-09-10 19:10