NEW YORK — They used to go to 11. Now it’s far closer to zero.
It brings me no pleasure to report that “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” the long-anticipated big screen return for “one of England’s loudest bands,” is a shocking disappointment. The movie gets a few pity chuckles here and there, but considering what a lodestar 1984’s “This is Spinal Tap” has been for so many creative people, one has to wonder what went wrong.
The fake rock group Spinal Tap is the creation of four legends in American comedy: Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins and Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, the often sparring lead singer and lead guitarist, Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls, the bassist and binding agent in the band, and director Rob Reiner as documentarian Marty DiBergi. All four are credited as writers, though famously much of what they’ve done over the years has been improvised.
Reiner, the son of Carl Reiner, well known for his character Mike “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family” before he became a celebrated film director, and Shearer, a voice actor on “The Simpsons” for over 35 years, are both Jewish. Christopher Guest, a member of the House of Lords (really), has some significant Jewish heritage and is also married to Jamie Lee Curtis, who is half-Jewish and recently aided in the restoration of an old Hungarian synagogue. Add this all up — plus the fact that Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer make quick appearances in both movies — and one realizes that Spinal Tap is surprisingly heimish under all those power chords and shaggy wigs.
The first film emerged after the four concocted the characters for a sketch in a television variety show. Lampooning not-particularly-bright rock musicians with thick British accents may seem common today, but few had done it with such insight before. And though “This is Spinal Tap” didn’t invent the idea of the mock-documentary, it certainly popularized the form. So many hit television shows, like “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Modern Family,” owe a lot of their comic grammar to what Reiner and company created.
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There was a lot of lightning in the bottle with “This is Spinal Tap.” Part of what made it work was its scrappy quality — Marty DiBergi’s crew is on the road with the band, catching what it can backstage and in quick interviews. Many of the set pieces have become classics — like the guys getting lost in a Cleveland arena, or the props malfunctioning on stage — but there is always forward momentum in the narrative. (This, as I’ll get to in a bit, is the primary problem with the new movie.) There are also a slew of memorable characters, not celebrities playing themselves, who interact with our three leads, even if only for one scene.
The other thing about Spinal Tap is that the music is actually very good! “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” may have (intentionally) idiotic lyrics, but it’s a straight-up power rock anthem. “Big Bottom,” as lewd as it is, has a funk riff that is legitimately terrific, and the Jethro Tull-like anthem “Stonehenge” is legendary for a reason. It’s not that different from the prog rock hits of the 1970s it is parodying. The annoying “Cups and Cakes” nails that mid-1960s Kinks vibe and “(Listen to the) Flower People” is almost indistinguishable from genuine pop psychedelia hits of the era. All of it is super catchy.
A still from ‘Spinal Tap II.’ (Courtesy Bleecker Street Films)
Between 1984 and now, Spinal Tap released a second album (“Break Like the Wind”), have made many television appearances, and have given in-character concert performances. It’s always been great when they’ve shown up in places — but all they’ve had to do, really, was put on the outfits, fake the accents, and play one of the hits. Making a second movie as good as the first, unfortunately, has proven to be far too difficult.
“Spinal Tap II” starts out well. It’s been 15 years since the three members have spoken to one another. David is composing hold music (one recent ditty, so he claims, won a “holdie” award), Nigel owns a cheese shop, and Derek manages a museum dedicated to glue. (There’s a bit with tortoise glue from the Galapagos that did make me cackle.) Derek also recently debuted a show called “Hell Toupée,” in which Satan sports a bad wig. That, too, made me laugh.
Christopher Guest, left, and Rob Reiner in a still from ‘Spinal Tap II.’ (Courtesy Bleecker Street Films)
But soon the action moves to New Orleans, where the boys will give a reunion concert. There’s an attempt at emotional stakes — with David and Nigel mad at one another — but it is hard to squeeze much drama out of this. Whereas the first movie was a road trip, this new one just stays put. It feels lazy and cheap.
The bulk of the movie involves the gang in the rehearsal room, mostly playing the songs we already know. In lieu of jokes, there are cameos. Yes, it is cool that Paul McCartney and Elton John show up, but… have you ever known either of these guys to be particularly funny? Both are super awkward doing unrehearsed schtick, and even master improvisers like Christopher Guest can’t make these scenes work. (They should have gotten Ringo instead!)
Other cameos don’t even make it to the set: Questlove, Lars Ulrich and Chad Smith (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) check in via Zoom. These sequences are painful.
A still from ‘Spinal Tap II.’ (Courtesy Bleecker Street Films)
There are a few zingers thrown around — these are naturally funny men — but they are mostly quick gags, nothing resembling the layered scenes that build on absurdity as seen in the original. A walk-through of Nigel’s gear is an attempt to recapture the “numbers all go to eleven” bit of the first movie, but it falls flat. (Times of Israel readers, however, may enjoy a throwaway moment where Rob Reiner compares someone rocking due to a knee injury to “davening, like at the Wailing Wall.”)
Christopher Guest, left, and Rob Reiner in a still from ‘Spinal Tap II.’ (Courtesy Bleecker Street Films)
What was weirdest to me is the lack of new songs. There are a few that we hear, but only very small clips, and they are all intentionally bad. I know a masterpiece like “Stonehenge” only comes around once in a lifetime, but they could at least try?
On a positive note, it looks like everyone involved had a good time. Harry Shearer turns 82 soon, so who am I to complain that his new movie kinda stinks. For all the laughs the group has given me over the years, I guess they’ve earned the right to hit a wrong note.
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