May 25, 2005

  • This is Spinal Tap


    I saw this movie for the first time when it came out in the early 1980's, and I thought it was hilarious.  I remember laughing so hard that I was gasping for breath when one of the characters played a beautifully lyrical piano piece and said it was called "Lick My Love Pump."  I thought the songs were a scream, too, and I left my viewing of that movie energized and a bit light headed from laughing so hard.


    Recently, I saw this movie on the list I could order from Blockbuster.com, so I did.  I watched it tonight, and the only thing I can wonder is, "What happened?  Why isn't this funny the second time?"


    This has happened to me before.  The first time was with Airplane.  I howled with laughter the first time I saw it, but I barely smiled the second time.  Blazing Saddles affected me the same way.  I loved it the first time I saw it but was unmoved when I saw it again.


    It's not as though I remembered the jokes and clever dialogue, because I really didn't.  That might have taken an edge off, if I had remembered it better.  That's why I though This Is Spinal Tap would get me laughing, but it didn't.


    Right now The Return of Spinal Tap is in the pile on my desk, but I'm wondering if I even want to bother.  I haven't seen that one before, but the let down of its parent film makes me apprehensive.


    ED