Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
North Haven Cinemark
Sept. 11
Back in 1984, Rob Reiner gifted the film and music world This is Spinal Tap, the king of mockumentaries that burned its band, their antics, and almost too many quotes into the cultural consciousness.
Almost 40 years later, Reiner and the band’s three main members (played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer), along with a host of old and new characters as well as some well-placed cameos, give longtime fans a “where-are-they-now” story and so much more in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
The film opened Thursday at the Cinemark in North Haven, and this reporter was there, fresh off a quick rewatch of the original, to see where our old friends had been since we last saw them and what they had gotten themselves into now.
For those who are not familiar with the original, it is considered a cultural touchstone by many, one of the first mockumentary-style films that took a subject — in this case a heavy metal band from England trying to gain momentum for their new album with a North American tour — and satirized it to the point that many of its bits and quotes became part of the lexicon. Even if you have not seen the film itself, you most likely have heard the phrase “these go to 11” — which in the original film refers to the band’s amps and has now become a common phrase to signify when something becomes excessive.
Expectations can be high for a beloved film’s sequel, especially one presented so far down the road from whence the original came, but the roots of this one are strong and solid. Rob Reiner has directed numerous hit films since the ‘80s, including When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and A Few Good Men, which have also left an indelible mark on the world. Guest, McKean, and Shearer — all incredible actors and writers — have been working together since the 1970s, most notably in the original film as well as Guest-directed mockumentaries such as Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. Those films also have another thing in common with the Spinal Tap films: the dialogue is mostly improvised. There was no reason to think this sequel would not have something to offer even if it was not the instant classic that the first film was.
I am happy to say it definitely had its moments. Flashbacks to the original film as well as a bit of exposition early on by director Marty DiBergi (played by Reiner) fill in the blanks between the current goings on of the band, reuniting after 15 years apart for one last really big reunion show in New Orleans. We get to check out where they have been and what they have been up to: Nigel Tufnel (played by Guest) runs a shop that sells cheese and guitars, David St. Hubbins (played by McKean) still makes music, albeit for podcasts and call waiting, and Derek Smalls (played by Shearer) runs a glue museum, which is apropos since he considers himself the “glue” that kept the two lifelong friends and often sparring partners, Nigel and David, together. When the band finally reunites, there is something in the air keeping Nigel and David at a distance still, and over the course of the film this riff unfolds and is explored. But for the most part, this is still a story of egos and excess played for laughs.
One of the biggest sources of laughter in the first film was the fate of Spinal Tap’s drummers, all of whom seemed to die under “mysterious circumstances.” The quest in this film for a drummer willing to risk almost certain death is explored with a few surprise cameos from real-life musicians, but the reins are eventually taken up by new-to-the-crew DD Crockett. Will she make it through in one piece? I would never divulge that here. And speaking of cameos, there are two pretty big ones by none other than Sir Paul McCartney (who delivers some lines that get some of the biggest laughs in the film) and Sir Elton John (who gets to perform with the band). Occasionally a big-name cameo can distract from a film, but these two each add their distinct charm to this one, emphasizing how impactive this band really is in their world.
A wealth of commentary (and jokes, of course) about the band members being old permeates the film. Concert promoter Simon even asks if one or two of them would be willing to die onstage, thus securing a memorial concert in the future. That’s just one of the ways he attempts to get the band to push their limits in order to attract more attention and, of course, revenue. Anyone involved in or with knowledge of the music business knows all too well that the road to more attention and fame ends up becoming about way more than simply writing and playing your songs. This film takes the original a few steps further and asks: how far are these musicians willing to go and for how much longer? At times it seems that even they don’t really know.
The trademark Spinal Tap songs are revisited and the original Stonehenge bit is taken even further, and while this film may not convey the rapid-fire humor of the first, it definitely knows its audience nearly as well as its stars know each other. There were fans at the screening I attended who laughed out loud throughout the entire film and right through the credits. A few bits fell flat, but I can honestly say I had quite a few laughs myself and left with a smile on my face. Musicians can deal with a lot of ridiculousness, but they also stick it out because they absolutely love what they do and can’t live without it. This film, at its core, balances that love and ridiculousness, something that those who created it have much skill at conveying. Go check it out at a matinee, and maybe even hit a show at a local club afterwards. And make sure you clap and scream for the band as loud as you can.
