Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Movie Review

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

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Written by: Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Rob Reiner & Harry Shearer (written by), Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Rob Reiner & Harry Shearer (characters created by)
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Rated: R
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Plot
Forty-one years later, the now estranged band mates of Spinal Tap are forced to reunite for one final concert. 

Verdict
There's no way to recapture the magic of the first movie, and all this does is coast on that success. The original spawned many imitators, and this feels like one. It has the same improvised feel, which isn't a bad thing. It helps to be familiar with the original, but this doesn't add much. It's serviceable, but why settle for that when you could just watch the original? I wonder why this movie exists.
Skip it.

Review
A sequel to This is Spinal Tap (1984), I wondered if this could recapture the magic.

While the first movie chronicled the band's final tour, that documentary provided them with renewed interest and they went on a comeback tour. They've long since retired, but a contract turns up dictating one more show.

Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) tracks down the band for one more show. Nigel (Christopher Guest) trades cheese and guitars at his cheese shop, David (Michael McKean) produces music for podcasts and hold music, and Derek (Harry Shearer) runs a glue museum. All they need is a drummer, and of  course no one wants to do it as Spinal Tap drummers have a penchant for dying.

Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean play Nigel, Derek, David

If you wanted additional Spinal Tap, this is it. I have to wonder how many people were clamoring for this band. It's more of a what have they been up to in the last several decades. It's not terrible, but it also doesn't match its predecessor. It's a movie for die hard fans, I suppose.

Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest play Derek, David, Nigel

The cameos attempt to lend this some credence, featuring Paul McCartney and Elton John practicing with the band, but they also feel like more of a distraction to pad the run time.

The band and their new drummer get ready for their concert. It's a mix of exercise due to their age and practicing the music. That's not without contention as they can't agree on their music. I expected more from the music; some kind of prodding about their lyrics with a modern perspective or them wanting to create more of the same. The only thing we get is references to past songs and a prop for their Big Bottom song. Their new manager really wants one of them to die on stage to increase records sales as part of a tribute, but none of the members are keen on actually dying.

Their concert is a fitting end for the group. It's another finale with a Stonehenge model that's a nod to the first movie. This seems like more of an epilogue than a sequel. Is This is Spinal Tap required watching? Yes. This one is not.