No, Really, You Should Go See Anvil

Anvil follows the band of the same name, a Canadian metal band that performed at a music festival in Japan in 1984 with a slate of other up-and-comers (Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, The Scorpions). The other bands on that bill went on to fame and fortune, but Anvil, despite their influence on future artists, didn't. Tales of failed bands are hardly notable, but Anvil never quit, still confident they're going to hit it big after more than twenty years of trying.

The documentary succeeds not because it sells you on Anvil's music, but because it immerses you in the band's existence, including the unexciting day jobs, the semi-supportive families, and their travails on a disastrous European tour. You can't help but admire the band's possibly misguided determination, and by film's final performance, you're rooting for the band's success. The film's quite a journey, and when the film closes you're glad you came along for the ride.