If you’ve ever had the inkling to be any kind of artist and you’re over 25, chances are that you’ve already sold out. Most of us abandon our dreams of becoming rock stars, ballerinas, or sideshow performers after we realize that the competition’s tough, the pay is usually non-existent and the job is often thankless.

But not Toronto-based metal outfit Anvil. They’ve been rockin’ since they were fourteen and now, in their fifties, they’re still rolling. Anvil! The Story of Anvil, documents the band’s struggle to remain together through the rough patches (aka the last twenty-odd years) and reclaim the rock fame they held for a brief moment in the eighties.

With cameos from Slash, Lars Ulrich, Motörhead’s Lemmy and Slayer’s Tom Araya, we learn about one of the most influential metal bands of the 80s. The film, directed by Sacha Gervasi (who wrote Terminal) and produced by Rebecca Yeldham (who produced The Kite Runner and Motorcycle Diaries), does a wonderful job at balancing humour and the sheer tenacity of a duo (band members Lips and Robb) that just wants to make it in the shady business of metal. Though I’m not a metal fan, the film translates to any music fan and, beyond that, to anyone with a seemingly unachievable dream.  

I’m dubbing Anvil! The Story of Anvil the feel-good doc of the year – it’s as entertaining as any Hollywood blockbuster and probably more heartwarming. I cannot tell a lie. I shed a tear or two while Lips and Robb struggled to sell their album. They fight like a married couple and reconcile like one, too. But their wives and families are the real heroes of the film – supporting Lips and Robb in their effort to succeed. Definitely a film worth catching.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil was the opening night feature at the 2008 Hot Docs festival, which is taking place in Toronto from April 17 - 27.