Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

41 years later ("it's one more, innit?"), Marty DiBergi follows up his successful documentary chronicling Spın̈al Tap's reunion and farewell concert. Again.

Similar to that film, it has the same laid-back cadence of improv, but this time it's more amusing than funny. Somehow, it feels like it's missing something. There aren't enough classic riffs. Cameos from the likes of Paul McCartney and Elton John are not enough to elevate it on their own. It feels unfinished and lacks a satisfying resolution after a four decade wait. I find it weird that all the press interviews I've seen with the cast in character are better than the movie itself, which feels like it's been truncated from its original form and cut out half the jokes. "Conflicted" doesn't even begin to cover my range of emotions.

The original remains a certified classic. This one is the equivalent of hearing a cover of your favorite band. Unnecessary and doesn't bring much to the table.

3 pedal boards out of 5

Note: Upon viewing it a second time, it clicked with me more. I've decided to raise my rating from a 2½ to a 3, but the essence of the nut remains the same.

The Return of Spinal Tap (1992)

AKA: A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out

In honor of Spın̈al Tap's new album release ("Break Like the Wind"), we have another rockumentary following them on their latest tour. Mostly consists of stage footage of Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) performing at the Royal Albert Hall for their "final" reunion concert. Where the joke ends and the performance begins, no one knows. These guys are basically fused as these characters forever at this point. It's mostly played straight as a concert film, blurring the lines between art and life even more. I found it enjoyable, but nothing new.

2½ incorrect Stonehenge proportions out of 5

THIS IS SPINAL TAP [1984]

Rob Reiner's theatrical feature length directorial debut, This Is Spinal Tap is probably one of the funniest rock music satires ever.

This mockumentary cult classic captures the lifestyles of the '80's heavy metal band so well, many real metal musicians of it's time failed to see the humor in it, some going so far as to saying "it's exactly like us. Why is it so funny?"

Spinal Tap members themselves, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer are top-notch ab-libbers and seem like the genuine thing, something they would only get better at at they prove in Guest's future films.  

4 crotch zucchinis out of 5