‘Spinal Tap’ sequel has its moments, but still off key
The Rolling Stones, ages 78 to 82, went on tour last year. The Who, ages 80 and 81, are currently lighting up U.S. arenas. And Led Zeppelin, ages 77 to 81, are planning a series of farewell concerts for next year. So, is it any wonder that the surviving members of Spinal Tap, ages 77 to 81, would like to cash in a touch of gray for a lot of green?
Yes, the crafters of such classics as “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm” have reunited to rock your world for one night only at the Lake Front Arena in New Orleans. In honor of this momentous occasion, filmmaker Marty DiBergi has agreed to return to chronicle both the concert and the recording of the band’s aptly named new album, “The End Continues.” And with limited thought, DiBergi has concluded his follow-up to 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap” should bear the pedestrian title of “Spinal Tap II.”
Lucky for us, the aged Brits – temperamental vocalist and rhythm axe-wielder David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), stoic lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and hirsute bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) – are in top comedic form. Well, for their age, which is OLD, very old! And, for the most part, so is the material, much of it a reconfigured rehash from the original.
In place of amp knobs that go up to 11, we have Nigel boasting about his wide array of guitar pedals. Poorly designed stage props continue to malfunction, and dead-drummer gags abound. Thus providing ample room for cameos by Chad Smith, Lars Ulrich and Questlove, all of whom are too chicken – or prideful – to take part in the reunion.
Not to worry, the skins are eventually manned by the marvelous Valerie Franco, playing under the pseudonym of DiDi Crockett – not to be confused with Davy Crockett, no relation. She provides one of the few splashes of youth amid all the facial and production wrinkles. To watch her play is invigorating, giving the band a newfound incentive to bury their petty grievances long enough to see the concert through.
DiBergi and his alter-ego, Rob Reiner, predictably follow the format of VH1’s “Bands Reunited,” on which host Aamer Haleem would drop in on each member to check out what they are up to now. DiBergi takes over Haleem’s duties, starting with Nigel, currently running a small cheese-and-guitar shop with his partner, Moira Babbage (Nina Conti), out of the tiny village of Berwick-Upon-Tweed in the North of England. Then, it’s onto Morro Bay, California, where David keeps busy performing in a mariachi band when not scoring murder podcasts and films, such as the upcoming “The Night of the Assisted Living Dead.”
Last, but not least, is Derek. He’s residing in the Tooting Bec section of South London, where he owns and curates The New Museum of Glue, featuring the world’s rarest polymers. An ideal profession, he says, because he’s always been the glue holding Spinal Tap together. And things are indeed sticky when the three arrive in New Orleans a few weeks before the concert. Nigel and David, childhood friends, can barely stand the sight of each other, and their new promoter, Simon Howler (Chris Addison), is making outrageous demands that they dance like a K-pop band (No doubt a dig at boy-band aficionado Simon Cowell) and that at least one of them, if not two, sacrifice themselves on stage. It will make them legendary, he promises. But, also dead. Yikes!
Between the shenanigans, tribute is paid to the band’s deceased agent, Ian Faith, replaced by his daughter, Hope Faith (Kerry Godliman), who believed her inheritance worthless until interest in Spinal Tap suddenly soared in the wake of a viral video of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood covering “Big Bottom.”
Brooks and Yearwood are among a plethora of celebrity cameos and shoutouts to characters from the original, including: Fran Drescher’s publicist Bobbi Fleckman, now CEO of Influential Influencers; David’s ex, Jeanine (June Chadwich), who’s answered a higher calling; and A&R man, Artie Fufkin (Paul Schaffer), now reduced to peddling dancing inflatables.
No less than Sir Paul McCartney stops by to join in on a rehearsal of the Tap classic, “Cups and Cakes,” containing the tasty line, “Cups and cakes, I’m so full my tummy aches.” The showstopper, though, is Sir Elton John, signing both “(Listen to the) Flower People” in studio and the calamitous “Stonehenge,” which literally brings the house down in concert.
The star power and the music are through the roof, but “Spinal Tap II” too often uses it as a means to distract from some pretty poor writing by Reiner, Guest, McKean and Shearer. Most of their jokes are tired, repetitive, and even downright silly, such as Simon’s plan to turn an IHOP into an International House of Rock, and selling “Tap water” in plastic bottles shaped like Stonehenge. Although, on the plus side, I did laugh heartily at Derek’s solo symphony show at which he regales his fans with a rendition of “Hell Toupee.”
It’s just one of the many catchy tunes that prick up the ears. The others include enduring classics such as “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” “Hell Hole,” and the aforementioned “Flower People” and “Stonehenge,” as well as new standards like “Rock N Roll Hell.” But nothing tops my favorite, “Big Bottom.” Yes, Derek, David and Nigel have now got ’em, but how could I ever leave ’em behind? I can’t. And while they might now be oldies, in their own way, Spinal Tap are still very much goodies.
Movie review
Spinal Tap II
Rated: R for language
Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Fran Drescher, Rob Reiner, Valerie Franco, Chris Addison, Elton John, Paul McCartney and June Chadwick
Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner
Runtime: 83 minutes
Where: In theaters Sept. 12
Grade: B-
