‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’ drags the once-brilliant mockumentary out of retirement for an 83-minute encore of creaky gags, limp cameos and moldy jokes
By James Verniere/Boston Movie News
This “long-awaited” sequel to 1984’s (boob) favorite “This Is Spinal Tap,” cleverly titled “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” is the epitome of the sequel no one in their right mind asked for. That is, except for Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, who also wrote and starred in the original film, earning great acclaim, which is understandable to a point, but there’s more to it.
The original “Spinal Tap” was a rare-at-the-time mockumentary spoofing the idiocy and narcissism of rock stars, especially British ones, their dreadful anthems (“Big Bottom,” “Hell Hole,” etc.), often insufferable fans, crooked agents and managers, and burnt-out, if not brain-dead, roadies. But it has been 41 years since the first film. Once upon a time, the tiny Stonehenge made us roar with laughter.
But stupidity and incompetence aren’t so funny anymore. The mockumentary genre, with its shaky cams and “live” interviews, has been beaten to death by “The Office” and “Abbott Elementary” et al. These actors-co-writers are so old that they have become moldy and begun to resemble crones. Shearer looks like both an elaborately bearded old woman and Gimli, the ax-wielding dwarf from ”The Lord of the Rings.” The others recall some of the faces in the band in the “Star Wars” Mos Eisley cantina sequence.
In this installment, “Tap” has a new promoter named Simon Howler (Chris Addison), who suffers from an ailment that makes it impossible for him to appreciate music (Are you howling?). After eons without a venue, the band has scored a gig at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans because an event called “An Evening with Stormy Daniels” has been canceled (Has ICE picked her up?). After spouting a lot of exposition, director Marty DiBergi (Reiner) tracks down the members of the band.
He finds David St. Hubbins (McKean) in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, where the musician has opened a cheese shop that also trades in guitars (Cheesy?). David, who is, as usual, completely insufferable, does not miss “the friction” of being in the band. Nigel (Guest) is in California, scoring a “murder porn” podcast and playing in a mariachi band on the side. Jeanine (June Chadwick) has become a nun (not a very funny one). Sporting a “Stick To It” T-shirt, Derek (Shearer) runs a glue shop, where he shows Marty a rare tortoise glue from the Galapagos in a small bottle with a long neck that gets stuck up Derek’s nose (unsightly, but not funny). We touch base with publicist Bobbi Flekman (the divine Fran Drescher), who bids the film goodbye too quickly (Fran knew).
The geezer band looks for another new drummer (they’ve had 10 or 11 meet untimely ends from such things as spontaneous combustion). We long for a joke that sticks. Howler thinks it would be good for business if one of them died on stage. I fear they’re all dying on screen. The band members interview an unemployed Blue Man musician still in blue face. Musician and filmmaker Questlove and Lars Ulrich of Metallica both “regretfully” demur. “Tap” finally finds Didi Crockett (Valerie Franco), and despite the “notorious curse,” she accepts the gig. Among the “merch” they will offer at their concert, Howler suggests chair lifts and easy entry showers, a joke that is actually funny.
Paul McCartney shows up in a listless cameo. Fellow elder rocker Elton John agrees to perform with the band in New Orleans. He and his piano rise to the stage through a trap door. The film features a digital countdown to concert day, complete with a full-size Stonehenge replica. For our part, we just want it all to end, which it does, mercifully, after 83 minutes. They got that right at least.
‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’
Rating: R for language including some sexual references.
Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Director: Reiner
Writers: Reiner, Guest, McKean, Shearer
Running time: 83 minutes
Where to Watch: In theaters
Grade: C
Boston Movie News 