Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Review
Comedy follow-ups are perhaps the hardest of all sequels to pull off. Just how do you make people laugh again at the same characters without forcing them into ridicule or, even worse, making them unfunny? In recent times, many have tried and failed to do just that: the less said about Zoolander 2 and Dumb & Dumber Too, the better, while this year’s other big sophomore effort, Happy Gilmore 2, destroyed all our faith just ten minutes in and played more like another Sandler family reunion than anything else.
Many have tried, many have failed, but it can be done: Anchorman 2, 22 Jump Street, Addams Family Values, and Austin Powers for jumping above the law of diminishing returns. So imagine our surprise – and fear – when, after four decades, the news dropped that Spinal Tap were returning. Yep, England’s greatest head bangers were once again going to be under the watchful eye of documentarian Marty DiBurgi (Rob Reiner) for more Stonehenge shenanigans, album cover fights and tripping the light fantastic to 11.
Since Tap in 1984, Christopher Guest, along with Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as his frequent collaborators, have taken the “mockumentary” framework and made it his own with Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind, all becoming cult classics and paving the way for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s success with The Office. And given his continued working relationship with fellow Tap alum Harry Shearer and Michael McKean, it was almost inevitable that the boys in the band would reunite, but all four (with Reiner included) weren’t set on a sequel at all until some contractual disputes – now settled – got the cogs going again and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues began.
Like those aforementioned other films, there is always magic in the air when the trio get together, and while it doesn’t quite coalesce in the same way as it did forty years ago, just seeing Tap back together is enough to make it a worthy successor. Just. Dusting off the amps, cranking everything to 11 (well, in this case, about a 6) and blasting out the classics – Stonehenge with Elton John, Big Bottom, Cups & Cakes, Hell Hole – this is pure, unadulterated Tap, sprinkled with much of the silliness that made the original such a contagious and genuine love letter to the absurdity of rock ‘n’ roll.
That said, for all its brilliant, wonderful and goofy moments, the documentary framework feels a little half-baked this time around. It still lends itself to allowing the superfecta to bring their comedy chops, unique charismas and penchant for the absurd to the fore, but it feels, like the band at the heart of it, older, flabbier and a little worse for wear. The cameos from those in the industry – see McCartney, Questlove, Lars Ulrich – add some extra pokes at the state of music in the Spotify/blockbuster concert world and the drummer curse, but feel more token than they perhaps should be.
As with the first film, the crescendo is a concert of utter magnificence, a raucous, glorious send-off – if it is to be one – that will certainly leave you both grinning and banging your head as hard as you can. There’s something undeniably satisfying about watching a totally ridiculous band play with such genuine heart, and no-one does it better than Tufnel, Smalls and St. Hubbins.
It doesn’t quite recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle genius and genre-changing prowess of the original, nor does it feel as genuinely hilarious, but Spinal Tap II: The End Continues has more than enough laughs, brilliant songs and the right cocktail of nostalgia to make it worthy. A flawed encore, sure, but one that’s well worth sticking around for.
★★★
In cinemas on September 12th / Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Kerri Godliman, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Chris Addison, Nina Conti / Dir: Rob Reiner / Sony Pictures UK, Castle Rock Entertainment / 15
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