Forty years after the legendary "This Is Spinal Tap" mocked the rock world, Rob Reiner's sequel, "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," attempts a reunion. The film finds Nigel, David, and Derek, the iconic trio of Spinal Tap, facing a final concert – a contractual obligation stemming from their late manager's will. Nigel's now a cheesemonger, David composes for true-crime podcasts, and Derek runs a glue museum. The reunion itself is less a clash of egos than a strangely harmonious gathering of aging rockers, punctuated by the comedic chaos of their new PR agent, Simon Howler – a man who, ironically, is tone-deaf.
The film revisits familiar Spinal Tap absurdity, but with a twist. The band isn't the hapless, critically panned act of the original. Instead, they're surprisingly beloved, a stark contrast to their previous image. This shift forms the core of the sequel's challenge. While there are moments of brilliance, particularly Derek's glue museum and the absurdist interactions with Simon, much of the humor falls flat. The sequel relies heavily on audience familiarity with the original, leading to callbacks that feel less like clever nods and more like lazy retreads. Furthermore, the inclusion of awkwardly dated pop culture references and a noticeable shift away from the original's fly-on-the-wall mockumentary style hinders the overall comedic effect.
The movie's biggest misstep might be its portrayal of Spinal Tap as rock royalty. This removes the relatable underdog charm that made the original so successful. The original film's magic stemmed from its portrayal of musicians struggling with typical rock-and-roll mishaps and ambitions that outweighed their abilities. Here, the band's problems are less grounded in the realities of touring musicians and more focused on contrived scenarios.
Ultimately, "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" is a mixed bag. While fans will undoubtedly appreciate seeing the band back together, the humor often lacks the bite and originality of the predecessor. It’s a reunion that's entertaining in parts, but fails to recapture the lightning in a bottle that made "This Is Spinal Tap" a timeless classic.
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Release Date: September 12, 2025
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Originally published at: https://www.avclub.com/spinal-tap-ii-the-end-continues-review
