Documentaries are famously easy to manipulate and it would have been easy for the director of this rock-doc, that underneath it all is more about the wonders of friendship, family and a passion for life than it is simply about a failed band, to make its two protagonists look like losers. Steve Kudlow, otherwise known as ‘Lips’, and Robb Reiner are two best friends that have been trying to make it in a heavy metal band since they were the age of 14. They came close to success and numerous bands purport to be influenced by them (including well known bands such as Metallica and Slayer) , but the music world moved on and 20 years later their sound is arguably old hat, even though they were once at the vanguard of its influence. Despite not having their dream realised they are still plugging away at it in their 50s and still sport the same kind of hair an adolescent boy does before he’s forced to get a sensible haircut and don a suit (in fact Lip’s long curly head of hair rather reminds me of my sister’s boyfriend’s except for the fact Lips is going slightly bald underneath it all). It all too easily could have descended into Spinal Tap territory, only neither of the two guys have a trace of pretention and are consistently likeable.
The documentary portrays the two friends having one last go at making it big by heading off on a European tour on which they encounter numerous underwhelming audience turn outs and an irate club manager, who refuses to pay 
them due to them finding it difficult to navigate the foreign streets and turning up more than an hour late. What is most endearing about the documentary is the sheer zealous energy the two guys have, particularly Lips, in following a dream that as Robb’s sister says, ‘Has been over for a long time’. While it appears Robb has had his dream heavily subsidized by his parents, Lips is forced, when not on tour or promoting the band, to work at a company which makes children’s school dinners (they do not even know his band exists) – a job that clearly does not fulfil his artistic needs. Yet he is forced to do it due to having a family and responsibilities and, well, financial needs. Lips and Robb’s dream is obviously not highly monetary, which is another thing which makes it endearing, as they have sacrificed a great deal to attempt to fulfil it and evidently get simple delight in just playing. At one point we see Lips attempt to get more cash by working in a cold calling centre yet he lasts only a day, disgusted by the impolite nature required and the lack of integrity to the position.
What clearly shines through is the unshakeable bond Lips and Robb have and the delight that they take in one another’s 
company. Through out all their abject failures filmed in the documentary, including getting a record company to agree to make their record only to find they would have to pay a substantial sum to do so and managing to raise the cash only to get their CD rejected everywhere they go, they remain like brothers at the end of the day. There is a high level of what is now days deemed ‘bromance’ to the whole affair and it’s really touching. We do not see them make it but despite this there is an indubitably uplifting ending that makes you realise that they are anything but failures because they realise what truly matters in life: the relationships you have, the experiences you go through, and just doing what makes you happy as much as is possible. I urge anyone to see this, even if you have as little interest in heavy metal as I do (and trust me that’s very little) as its an uplifting and funny film.
