SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES

SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES is a mockumentary that picks up a long time after the original 1984 movie. After a 41 year gap, the sequel focuses on a fragmented hard rock band named Spinal Tap composed of three guys and a drummer that always changes because the drummer keeps dying. The band finds themselves reuniting to perform one last concert. Will they be able to put aside their differences and work things out for the concert?

SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES begins with a bit of an exposition dump. The movie explains that a character named Martin filmed a documentary about that ended up being the first movie. While the first movie was supposed to follow the band’s last tour, the band kept performing. They continued for a while, until band members Nigel and David, who were friends since they were young, had a falling out. This led to the band’s breakup. However, now Martin is hunting them down, because it turns out that they’re contractually obligated to perform one last show.

With this new information, Martin sets off to find the band members. After tracking them down, Martin learns about the variety of careers the former metal band members chose. Nigel owns a cheese shop that also sells guitars. Meanwhile, David still produces music, but he no longer makes rock music. Instead, he makes music for when people are put on hold on the phone. We also learn of the divorce David had with his wife. He has no clue, but she divorced him to follow Jesus. Meanwhile, the final living band member, Derek, works in a glue museum.

With the band back together, they meet the new management, Hope Faith, the daughter of their former manager. She brings Chris Addison, the concert promoter, with her. Together they start to get the band ready for one last concert. First thing, they need a new band member, because of the running gag of Spinal Tap drummers dying. They have a variety of odd drummer auditions, including a member from the Blue Man Group, but eventually they settle on a young woman named Didi.

The band starts to practice their songs, getting back into the grove of things. While doing so, Nigel and David start to get into some arguments. At the same time, Paul McCartney shows up and tries to help resolve some of those arguments. From there, the dysfunctional band continues to get closer and closer to the concert date. While still practicing, they need help filling out their set and that’s when Elton John appears. We learn that he was a big Spinal Tap fan and jumps on the chance to play with them.

With everything pretty much ready, it’s onto the sound test. However, this is where everything goes downhill, with Nigel and David having another falling out. David storms off, and it’s an open question whether the band will perform or not. The band made it this far. Are they really going to give up right before they make it to the concert?

SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES is well captured and acted, but it lacks any comprehensive story. While the overall plot is the journey of one last concert, the bits leading up to the concert aren’t coherent. Argument after argument, absurd joke after absurd joke, there’s no solid progression in the plot. It doesn’t help that it was filmed as a mockumentary, but the movie overall feels like a mismatch of scenes that could have, and possibly should have, been left on the cutting room floor. It could have jumped from beginning straight to the end, and viewers wouldn’t have missed anything important.

SPINAL TAP II is a concoction of multiple, contradictory worldviews. Though it has a comical tone, the movie has a dominant Christian, redemptive worldview, with an emphasis on forgiveness. Plus, there’s the one band member’s ex-wife, who’s a Christian. Otherwise, however, there are some pagan and false religion elements. For example, a character admits to becoming a Buddhist. Also, the band rehearses and performs in a haunted house. So, there are ghosthunters in the background trying to detect ghosts and spirits throughout the movie. Finally, the new female drummer turns out to be a lesbian. SPINAL TAP II also has lots of strong foul language and multiple lewd references. So, MOVIEGUIDE® rates it excessive and unacceptable.