Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Review

 

Alright, two days ago I reviewed the original 1984 classic. Now it's time to review the sequel where hopefully it's just as good as the first.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is a mockumentary comedy film and the sequel to This is Spinal Tap. Production this time around was done by Castle Rock Entertainment and distribution wasn't done by Embassy Pictures, but by Bleecker Street. Rob Reiner not only returned to direct and write the story, but also returning to write was Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer.

The story is, it's been around forty years since the first documentary. Martin Di Bergi sets out to film the band Spinal Tap for their reunion and final show. But Spinal Tap is not only struggling with finding a drummer, but also with their checkered past. But they still hope to put on a show and solidify their place among the other pantheons of rock 'n' roll.

Initial Reaction

Even though I only became a fan of the original like three days ago, I was still interested to see the sequel. When watching the trailer it looked like it was gonna be funny. So hopefully it is.

Cons

I've got nothing.

Middle Ground

The only mix feeling I had was with the humor. Now the sequel does poke fun at reunion tours. Being light-hearted jabs about how they often come off as desperate, but also making fun of more modern rock tropes like bad record deals. But there are times when they are recycling jokes from the 1984 classic. Even going far as to have a prop mishap. It didn't bother me too much, especially since I did chuckle. But it did leave me wanting something more.

Pros

First thing I'll credit is the tight pacing. The movie clocks in at 90 minutes and by no means overstays its welcome. It's a quick and easy movie to through just like the first was. Then there's Reiner's directing. He once again does a tremendous job at making this feel like a documentary, only more polished than the original's grain style considering documentaries have evolved. And what also helped with this realistic style was Rob's own experience actually directing a documentary not too long ago, that being Albert Brooks: Defending My Life for anybody that was curious. The last thing I'll praise is the trio of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer. The three slipped into their iconic roles effortlessly. They perfectly nailed Nigel, David, and Derek's bickering and obliviousness making me love these characters all over again.

While nothing went up to eleven (bet nobody's made that joke before), the sequel does a very serviceable job. Would've I wanted something more innovative? Yes. But thankfully it didn't suck.

My final rating is, Okay.

Sorry if this review felt shorter than most. I'm currently pup/house sitting for my sister while her and her boyfriend are off to see some football game in Pittsburgh. So I had to focus a lot of time making sure the pups eat, went to the bathroom OUTSIDE, and also don't get sprayed by a skunk. Yes, that last one actually happened to the pups prior to me doing this favor.

Anyways, that's all for now. Come back on Monday, Sept 15th, for my review of The Long Walk. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.