Spinal Tap II: El final continúa

I don't know about the spirit of "Spinal Tap", but the spirit of the much-loved "Victor Meldrew" - in the guise of "David St. Hubbins" (Michael McKean) is alive and well here! A better and more curmudgeonly companion for the newly married and cheese-shop owning "Nigel" (Christopher Guest) and glue-museum curator "Derek" (Harry Shearer) you couldn't ask for as they reunite at the behest of the producer "Martin DeBergi" (Rob Reiner) for a last fly-on-the-wall to accompany their forthcoming one-night-only gig in New Orleans. If you thought the "Bros" movie (2018) showcased what happens when things don't go well in a band, well you're in for something altogether more acerbic as poor old "Derek" tries his best to mediate between his two sparring partner colleagues, whilst all three have to put up with the moronic interventions of their aptly named record company man "Howler" (Chris Addison) who wouldn't know a drum kit from a Kit Kat. With tensions mounting and reminiscences differing, their recording sessions get underway in earnest and thanks to a few contributions from musical knights Paul McCartney and Elton John as well as Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, who knows but "Stonehenge" could be played to the baying fans just once more? It's a bit of a slow starter, this film, but once they've got themselves into gear and we start to hear their music as well as their bickering, the film starts to shine a little like the first outing from forty-odd years ago. The dialogue is pithy and funny, the lyrics to the songs would never have passed the code censors as euphemisms galore appear verbally and visually to cement the original creative tackiness of the concept. There's an entertaining chemistry between McKean and Guest, Sir Elton joins in with some gusto (if perhaps not with the most convincing acting you'll ever have seen) and it just goes to show that these ageing rockers still have what it takes to send up an industry that is riddled with parasitic hangers-on, old grudges and died-in-the-wool fans who'd turn up to the opening of an envelope. It hasn't quite the sharpness of the original 1984 outing, but you still have to ask what chance their eleventh (or is it twelfth) drummer "Didi" (Valerie Franco) will make it through to the credits? Good fun!

I wasn't old enough to catch the original 'This Is Spinal Tap' when it came out, but I discovered it in the '90s after a musician friend recommended it. He loved the film because he thought it was so true to life in the music industry. There's even a famous story that Ozzy Osbourne didn't realise it was a comedy.

I saw the sequel in a cinema today with only two other people, but that didn't stop me from laughing out loud. The fly-on-the-wall documentary format shines on the big screen, and the humour translates perfectly.

The film has plenty of funny scenes and two fantastic cameo performances from Elton John and Paul McCartney. It was great to see that the band, which genuinely became a live act in their own right after the original film, still look like they are enjoying themselves while playing.

Ultimately, the film surpassed my expectations. It captured the spirit and humour of the original, and Rob Reiner, along with the cast, succeeds at a difficult task: bringing a sequel to life decades later. The result is a follow-up that not only honours the legacy of the first film but also feels fresh and relevant.

If the original went to 11, this one goes to about 7.

It's probably difficult attempting to return to the format you created (and hundreds of others hhave been influenced by) and expecting as good as return as the original.

It's not laugh out loud funny very often, but it's an enjoyable watch. Like hanging out with your cool uncle who's a bit slower, and isn't as invested as he used to be.

Still, I could watch Marty interview Nigel for three more hours.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is a worthwhile comedy sequel that has some gaps between really successful jokes but it still has plenty of them overall. It's a loving return with all the expected absurdity contained in another efficiently brief run time. There's a few fun cameos from music legends to counterbalance the incredibly brief appearances from original supporting cast members which feel pointless.

Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer & Michael McKean retain their endearingly awkward rapport. Chris Addison and Kerry Godliman are wonderful new additions who match the film's energy like their predecessors did. Returning director Rob Reiner brings the same lovable energy in his performance and his direction still understands how to be a mockumentary with the best decision being to keep the film going throughout the credits again.

Every time I hear of a sequel being made for a movie, something along the lines of "30 years later" or "the next generation", I always feel skeptical to watch it, and I'm usually right for doing so.

No way was I expecting this to be the masterpiece that the first movie was, but I also didn't find it lacklustre or underwhelming. It wasn't necessary to make sequel, but since they did make it, I found it watchable and effortlessly funny like the first.

Sure, it wasn't as funny as the first-they rehashed a lot of the jokes-but I think some references were needed for us fans to connect with the movie.

I felt it had continued on with the trajectory of the first movie in terms of the humour. It's understandable that it's not going to have the energy of the first (I mean, they are older now), but the script (or improv) made sense with where the characters/actors are at this point of their career.

Overall, it was a bearable sequel with its own unique moments (and I definitely agreed with the cameos). It might not require multiple viewings, but I wouldn't mind watching it for a second time, just to see if I had missed any subtle gags.