I couldn’t wait beyond release day, so Hub and I attended a 4pm showing of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues on the day of release – 12 September. Sadly, it wasn’t showing at our beloved local cinema, The Picture House, Uckfield, so we made the short trip to The Atrium Cinema in East Grinstead where we had Screen 2 to ourselves. I’m being completely literal… Hub and I were the only two people in that cinema! Is this a portend of the film’s box office potential? At least we had the opportunity to move nearer to the speakers as the sound in the auditorium didn’t seem loud enough for a movie about the world’s loudest band. Perhaps they didn’t broadcast in Dobly.
The moment I saw the very first trailer, many months ago, I added the release date to my calendar and had been full of eager anticipation ever since. But expectation is a double-edged sword…
With such a body of anticipation comes the potential for a massive anti-climax. Hub shared with me his trepidation. The fear that a disappointing sequel would sully the memory of the original movie. Taint an enjoyment that’s existed for 41 years. Spoil the sound bites that have peppered the soundtrack of my adult life.
Notable highlights included seeing the guys casually rehearsing their old songs. They still play and sing well, which is what fooled many into thinking the original was a true documentary (if you will, rockumentary); their new drummer – the terrific Valerie Franco – who was perfect in every way. Her incredible mastery of the drum kit was a joy to watch; snippets of interviews with some of the secondary characters from the original – currently residing in the “where are they now” file – notably Bobbi Fleckman and Artie Fufkin
They were all much older, of course. It was expected but still shocked the system a little. When you see your heroes aging it’s an intimation of mortality more poignant than any birthday.
But it was good. It was enjoyable and it was funny. Not in the “laugh out loud” manner of the original, but in a way that raised a nostalgic, slightly watery, smile. I’d really hoped that the jokes from This Is Spinal Tap wouldn’t be lazily repeated and I’m happy to report that they weren’t, but the humorous situations alluded to the original in a way that reinforced the continuity of each character’s quirks. Nigel is still obsessed with his equipment (well he’s a guitarist) and now also cheese, the combination of which allows him to show us his latest innovation since we can no longer be impressed by a radio transmitter. The love-hate relationship between Nigel and David is still interfering with play and Derek Smalls remains the glue that holds the band together. Talking of glue… but I don’t want to offer any spoilers. Instead of “too much perspective” we have “too much piano,” the unacceptable college buffet is replaced with a similarly unappetising cajun spread and an excess of guitar effect pedals are what now take us to 11.
Sequels to hugely popular cult movies often attract cameo appearances from big stars. Sometimes, the attraction of the big names becomes more of a draw than the movie itself. Hence, another concern I had was that Spinal Tap II might rely on the firepower of celebrity names to get it over the line. But while Paul McCartney and Elton John both feature, these appearances were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the movie and one had the impression that both stars were actually basking in the spotlight of Tap – which is as it should be.
As befitting David’s character, he was pretty scathing about McCartney in one of his interview scenes. Made funnier because his assessment of McCartney as toxic was so far removed from reality.
It was Elton who excelled, as celebrity cameos go. Along with the band members, he suffered the final indignity… oops, no spoilers. I have no doubt that when we saw David Furnish filming on his mobile in the background, a look of delight on his face, it was because he and Elton were genuinely thrilled to be a part of something dear to them.
Overall, I was happy with the sequel. It was funny enough, it had the nostalgia of in-jokes and the climax (again, no spoilers) was very satisfying as they finally manage to get the proportions correct for the Stonehenge scenery – although in the end they might have fared better sticking to a Stonehenge monument that was “in danger of being crushed by some dwarves.”
Tap came out of hibernation to remind us they’re still there and still capable of rocking out and raising a laugh. See it without expecting it to match up to the original – it never could – and you won’t be disappointed.
