Forty-One years after This Is Spinal Tap, now estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, & Derek Smalls reunite for one final concert captured once again by documentarian Marty Di Bergi. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock “n” roll.
What We Thought:
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hit theaters months back and most people have no idea it did. I knew it was coming out and then didn’t even see promotion for it. A sequel to one of the most respected comedies of all-time came and went and watching the Blu-ray, I can kind of see why.
This is Spinal Tap is a beloved comedy. The mockumentary crafted the blueprints on how to make a fake documentary. It was so believable some people genuinely thought the band was real. Over the decades it became one of the most referenced and quoted films of the 1980s.
Its sequel tried to capture that lightning in a bottle and didn’t. Ultimately it’s the same type of movie, but we now knew what to expect and a lot of it doesn’t land. The band’s infighting in the first film lead to a long time hiatus with the three bandmembers going their separate ways. With their original band manager dead, his daughter wants to cash in one more time with a comeback concert. Spinal Tap is set to play New Orleans with musical icons Paul McCartney and Elton John making appearances.
There are jokes and gags that land, but ultimately Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is pretty forgettable. I think diehard fans will love it, but it feels like a rethread with its three leads and Rob Reiner trying to cash in on the film’s popularity through the decades. Big comedies are few and far between in today’s world and I was hoping this would be a surprise gem. I even rewatched This is Spinal Tap before watching this sequel, but ultimately it left me understanding why it wasn’t pushed and did nothing at the box office.
The Nerds Templar 