After a more than forty-year hiatus, the Tap are back. Anyone who knows the music business or knows a participant in that trade will have insider knowledge of how crazy that world can be. So, as outrageous as the activities in the first film, This Is Spinal Tap, were, know that it’s only 90% as crazy as the reality actually is. The real fun resides in that last ten per cent.
While the first film riffed on the dysfunction that exists in almost every rock band ever, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues zeroes in on the added particulars of the band members now being four decades older. The three core band members have all settled down into farcical jobs. Guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) sells cheese, second guitarist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) is in a mariachi band, and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) runs a glue museum.
When the three get back together to play that last final gig after all those years, the old wounds are ripped open again. The band practice sessions are rife with tension, animosity and guest stars as both Paul McCartney and Elton John drop in to offer services. Elton and his proclivity for extravagance is used to full and hilarious effect. Slowly, the band get their groove back and things are starting to look good for the reunion show.
The humour is mostly split into two categories, the personal dynamics, which are strained due to unresolved issues and that old chestnut “musical differences”. Their misguided management team also adds a lot to the frivolities. In typical Tap fashion, things do not go smoothly, and it all builds to a disastrous finale that will make you laugh and think it completely in character.
Rob Hudson
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