This past spring, I rented the special edition DVD of the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap because my book is about a guy who's obsessed with a band. I watched the DVD with and without the commentary five or six times, because it was totally hilarious!
And then, I wondered: what do Brits think of the American actors' accents? So I did some research online at UK sites, and found these assesments.
The Guardian says:
“When Spinal Tap fans meet [Christopher] Guest, especially in Britain, they are often amazed to hear him talking in an American accent because Tufnel's rock star mockney is so pitch-perfect."
From a review:
“The all-American cast grunt and preen their way through the proceedings in a word perfect English accent (a rare thing indeed)...”
And a review in DVD Times says:
“Guest, McKean and Shearer all hold down an English accent brilliantly...”
And finally, I emailed a virtual buddy of mine, a Brit who's living in Germany (and is fluent in German, by the way, which I totally envy) to ask for his opinion. He said:
"The accents in This Is Spinal Tap are absolutely faultless...But I'm often blown away by the phonetic skill of some of your best American actors/actresses. Look at Renee Zellweger (if you will...) I was amazed to find out she's a Texan. When she did Bridget Jones I was convinced she was British."
So there you have it, it's been confirmed by various sources. Congrats Spinal Tap. And Rene Zellweger.
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