Spinal Tap II: The End Continues – laughs are sadly ‘thin on the ground’
Disappointing sequel to the classic rock ’n’ roll spoof
 
It’s hard to overstate the “cultural significance” of Rob Reiner’s spoof “rockumentary” “This Is Spinal Tap”, said Wendy Ide in The Observer. An account of a disastrous US tour by a clueless English rock band, the 1984 film has become “an endlessly quoted cult classic”, regularly cited as one of the funniest comedies ever made. Now, 40-plus years on, Reiner and his cast have reunited for a sequel and, alas, it is unlikely to inspire any such devotion. As in the first film, it purports to be a fly-on-the-wall documentary, but this time, the laughs are sadly “thin on the ground”.
High expectations
No sequel to “Spinal Tap” could meet fans’ highest expectations, said James Walton in The Spectator. This one doesn’t “live up to the lower ones, either”. When the film opens, the band haven’t spoken to each other in years, and documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Reiner) finds them living in “a series of effortfully wacky locales”: Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) runs a guitar and cheese shop in Berwick-upon-Tweed; Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) is the curator of a museum of glue; and David St Hubbins (Michael McKean) writes on-hold music. However, a Garth Brooks cover of their old hit “Big Bottom” has just gone viral, setting the scene for a reunion concert in New Orleans.
Not ‘terrible’
Unsure what to do next, the film tries focusing on how much the industry has changed, by introducing a Simon Cowell-style promoter (Chris Addison) – a figure who already seems dated – and then throws a load of jokes at the problem, in the hopes some stick. To be fair, some do, said Robbie Collin in The Daily Telegraph; it’s fun to see the band again, and the final concert is “inspired”. So no, the film is not “terrible” – but to be sure of enjoying it, you might want to convince yourself that it is going to be.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
- 
 ‘The worry is far from fanciful’ ‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day 
- 
 How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP? How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt 
- 
 Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’ Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams 
- 
 Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’ Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams 
- 
 Art Review: Downtown/Uptown: New York in the Eighties Art Review: Downtown/Uptown: New York in the EightiesFeature Lévy Gorvy Dayan, New York City, through Dec. 13 
- 
 R&B singer D’Angelo R&B singer D’AngeloFeature A reclusive visionary who transformed the genre 
- 
 Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley Kiss guitarist Ace FrehleyFeature The rocker who shot fireworks from his guitar 
- 
 Roasted squash and apple soup recipe Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours 
- 
 6 well-crafted log homes 6 well-crafted log homesFeature Featuring a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace in Montana and a Tulikivi stove in New York 
- 
 Film reviews: A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and It Was Just an Accident Film reviews: A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and It Was Just an AccidentFeature A nuclear missile bears down on a U.S. city, a sexual misconduct allegation rocks an elite university campus, and a victim of government terror pursues vengeance 
- 
 Book reviews: ‘Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife’ and ‘Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It’ Book reviews: ‘Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife’ and ‘Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It’Feature Gertrude Stein’s untold story and Jane Leavy’s playbook on how to save baseball