Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

How do you top one of the best comedies ever made? The trick is not to even try. With high expectations for a This Is Spinal Tap sequel, it’s best to just push forward as if it hasn’t even been forty years between films, which is what Rob Reiner and his stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer accomplish. As much as Spinal Tap II: The End Continues works to just show what these guys would be doing 40 years later, it’s also like watching four friends with a long history just hanging out and having a good time - in character, of course! 

Now, the plot, as with many Mocumentaries, is pretty straightforward. The legendary trio of Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls have not played together as Spinal Tap for more than fifteen years. After a bitter breakup for reasons unexplained, the three men have gone their separate ways. But because of a clause in their contract, they are forced to reform for one final reunion concert in New Orleans. With mere days to prepare, they must practice, set aside old differences, and somehow find a drummer who isn’t afraid of possibly dying on stage, all while veteran documentarian filmmaker Marty DiBergi once again captures the magic of Spinal Tap. 

Right out of the gate, I’ll just say I really had a great time with Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. I went in without much expectation. Because nothing could possibly measure up to the original film, I didn’t carry that yardstick into the theater. Instead, I just hoped it wouldn’t be a pathetic reshash (it wasn’t) and I just wanted a laugh (I did). It’s not perfect, but damn, it is pretty funny. The best assets for this film are these characters. Guest, McKean, and Shearer haven’t lost a beat in 40 years of playing these well-meaning, dimwitted musical legends. Reiner still has a knack for complete befuddlement as he interviews the guys, anyone associated with the band, and the fans.

They say comedy is hard, but Mocumentaries are especially difficult. You have to go beyond commitment. You have to go beyond deadpan. You have to reach this nexus of absolute authenticity where the characters we’re seeing are real human beings and the situations unfolding actually happened - no matter how absurd. Spinal Tap II: The Ending Continues almost gets there but a few pieces just don't quite fit the picture.

That said, so many pieces come together beautifully. Cameos with Paul McCartney and Elton John are a kick, and it’s fun to see what Bobbi Fleckman and Artie Fufkin are up to in their brief moments. But repetitive bits, like some ghost hunters invading the guys’ guest house, didn’t stick. Chris Addison as the new promoter almost works, but too often he plays his character like he’s in on the gag and delivering a punchline. And there are quite a few scenes with side characters who feel like they’re too in on the gag. They break that required authenticity for the comedy to truly land. So, not as good as the first, but still worthwhile all these years later.

This sequel was a damn good bit of fun. I was happy to catch it in theaters, happier to see so many people in the theater all enjoying it as well. And this film isn’t the end of Tap! We have their upcoming Stonehenge event to look forward to, with the concert film rolling out to IMAX theaters in 2026. Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls might not be the spritely youngsters they were 40 years ago, but they can still rock out with the best of them and keep us laughing for another 80 minutes.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray 
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues rocks out on Blu-ray thanks to Decal. Pressed on a Region A BD25 disc, the disc is housed in a standard case with slipcover. The disc loads to a trailer for the upcoming Fackham Hall before moving onto an animated main menu with basic navigation options.

Quick not

While slipped onto a BD25 disc, there aren’t any extra features to contend with, and the film is only 83 minutes long, so bitrates hold tight. Overall, the image is clean and looks quite good with nice crisp details, fine lines, and ample textures. I couldn’t locate any information about the digital intermediate or anything of the like beyond the obvious that it was captured digitally. Small, detailed gags like Nigel’s cheese shop, the practice studio, some of the more outlandish outfits, and the full-scale Stonehenge model stand out. Depth can feel a tad flat in places, but nothing too severe. I was hoping to get a 4K copy to review, but I’ve pre-ordered the upcoming SteelBook, so we’ll see if there’s any visual advantage there.

On the audio front, we have a nice, strong DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. A lot of the film is made up of the sort of short interview clips we know and love for a Mockumentary, so a good portion of the mix mostly feels Front/Center channel-focused. There are some nice slides into surrounds, especially in busier scenes or whenever there are music bits on screen. The scenes of the guys practicing, interviewing new drummers, and the big finale concert are the most active and fully engaging sequences for this mix. That’s where this surround track earns its accolades and delivers the goods. Overall, for this type of comedy, the mix does its job well.

Sadly, no extras. I was bummed about this because these kinds of movies tend to have A LOT of footage that doesn't make the final cut. When you don’t have a solid script and it’s a lot of improv work, there are gags and pieces that just don’t make it to the screen for time, pace, or any number of reasons. I mean, for the first film, there’s more deleted footage than the actual movie itself! I can only imagine how many extra goofy sequences Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls have. Maybe someday we’ll get a more elaborate edition.

No, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues isn’t as good as the original film. But then it never possibly could be. This Is Spinal Tap was a groundbreaking piece of comedy, unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. It’s a tough act to follow. But this sequel does its best to deliver a damned funny follow-up. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner haven’t lost a beat in 40 years, ably reviving these characters with ease and hilarity. The film’s only real weak spot was some of the side bits and characters that never quite nailed the gag's authenticity. But even if a few jokes are duds, the majority of the film is great. On Blu-ray, we get to enjoy a solid A/V presentation. I aim to get a look at the 4K copy when my preorder comes in, and if there’s a notable difference or improvement in that package, I’ll circle back to this title again for another review. But for now, those who enjoyed the film, this Blu-ray does the show justice. Even without extras, I'm still inclined to call this one Recommended