Top Ten Comedy Films About The Music Industry
Let me explain- by the Industry I dont just mean about musicians (at least not on its own), I mean the various machinations behind the music: the journalism, the production, the tours, the record labels, and most topically the broadcasting. Basically, biopics just dont count. See what Im getting at? Its all very cleverly linked to this weeks British cinematic release of Richard Curtis no-doubt feel-good The Boat That Rocked. 10. Airheads Brendan Fraser definitely finds his feet when playing vapid morons- although George of the Jungle and Dudley Do-Right amazingly both managed to belly flop limply into the abyss never to be watched again. Teaming him with the equal idiocy of Adam Sandler, and the excellent character acting of Steve Buscemi proved to be a wonderful decision, and produced one of the best films about every garage rock-bands delusions of grandeur. For everyone whose ever picked up a guitar, strummed three out of key Gs and proclaimed themselves a Rock God, Airheads rebellion and hostage taking is a brainless but entertaining departure from the reality of our own mediocrity. 
9. A Mighty Wind What is it with Christopher Guest and mockumentaries? It would be impossible to compile any kind of tomb on the genre without heavily referencing the man, and A Mighty Wind ranks as one of his best. Probably the least famous of his ventures into spoofery- but infinitely better than For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind doesnt have the laugh-count of Spinal Tap, or the tender subtle perfection of Best In Show, but it is a definite slow-burner and a classic in its own right. 
8. The Rutles Unfortunately never deemed as good as This is Spinal Tap (a trend I wont buck), but featuring a veritable whose who of comedy actors in its cast, The Rutles combines the scatter-brain comedy of Monty Python (Eric Idle is particularly good) and the rockstar appeal of Saturday Night Live. Spawned an unfortunately forgettable sequel. 
7. Waynes World 2 (1994) Chiefly included because of the Waynestock sub-plot, as Mike Myers best character creation attempts to set up his own rock festival encourages by Jim Morrison (played illogically well by nobody Michael Nickles) and a weird naked Indian. The best scenes surround Ralph Browns character Del Preston, who very obviously channels the spirit of his most famous performance: Danny in Withnail & I, and hit a high as his drug addled brain confuses the concert plan with a military strategy. 6. Still Crazy Before Bill Nighy became the national treasure he seems to be now he made Still Crazy; a lesser known British comedy about a hugely popular glam rock band- the fantastically named Strange Fruit- reforming for a Welcome Back tour. The best of the film comes with the touching explorations into aging masculinity, particularly around Bill Nighys Ray Simms, and an entertaining struggle for creative control between him and a bearded Jimmy Nail. Billy Connolly appears as the worlds oldest and most dedicated roadie in a cracking turn. 
5. The Blues Brothers Still one of the best soundtracks ever produced,The Blues Brothers could boast the phenomenal musical presences of Ray Charles, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin, and yet at the time of its release interest in Blues music was flagging significantly. It is ere it not for the passionate commitment of John Belushi and Dan Akroyd, mainstream music fans may never have recognised the genre as the unbelievable artistic movement that it was. Epic car chase as well. If only Blues Brothers 2000 hadnt spoiled the legacy. 
4. This Is Spinal Tap Of course. 
3. Almost Famous Is it a comedy? Probably not. But it has funny sections- chiefly focused upon Jason Lees Jeff Bebe- and the film is a near perfect look at one young boys dream of working for Rolling Stone. I have to confess I have a deep personal fondness for the film, and it is the major reason I nailed my dreams upon being a journalist. 2. 24 Hour Party People If Steve Coogan was as achingly cool as Tony H Wilson (he manages to inspire the same amount of bilious rage sometimes) he would have hung up his film-making boots after this fantastic little British biopic devoted to Factory Records. It isnt strictly speaking a comedy either, but Steve Coogans performance, and light relief provided by Peter Kay, as well as a fucking hilarious turn by Andy Serkis as super-producer Martin Hannett make it more than just a straight biopic. 
1. High Fidelity The film that inspired the title of this little lists of mine. Okay, so its a modern pop-culture heavy take on the romantic comedy, and its more invested in the models of human relationships and their various catastrophic disintegrations, but you just cant imagine High Fidelity without the record store scenes that make Empire Records look like a piece of shit. Jack Black has never, and one fears will never again hit the heights of Barry- and his gorgeous rendition of Sexual Healing at the end is still enough to make a grown man weep. Namely me.