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With: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Valerie Franco, Rob Reiner, Fran Drescher, Don Lake, John Michael Higgins, Jason Acuña, Nina Conti, Griffin Matthews, Kerry Godliman, Chris Addison, Brad Williams, Paul Shaffer, Kathreen Khavari, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Questlove, Trisha Yearwood, Chad Smith, Lars Ulrich
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Written by: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer
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Directed by: Rob Reiner
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MPAA Rating: R for language including some sexual references
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Running Time: 83
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Date: 09/12/2025
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Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)
Can't Leave This Behind
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues isn't uproariously funny, nor particularly edgy, and it will be entirely useless to anyone who is not already a fan, but darned if it isn't rather sweet and pleasant. That's not exactly a metal thing to say, but it's true.
In the movie, as in real life, it's 41 years since Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) made This Is Spinal Tap. In the world of the movie, it was an unflattering portrait of a terrible band, but in real life it's a masterpiece of comedy and mockumentary. Now, Marty learns that Hope Faith (Kerry Godliman) — the daughter of the late Spinal Tap manager Ian Faith — has inherited the band's contract (I guess?) which includes a requirement for one more gig. A viral video of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood singing "Big Bottom" gives the band some newfound clout.
So Marty tracks down the band members. David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) is playing in a mariachi band, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) runs a cheese shop, and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) is in charge of a glue museum. Then comes the problem of finding a new drummer. (Fans will remember that the band has a history of drummers dying in terrible and unexpected ways.) There are some fun cameos of famous drummers nervously turning down the job before they hire the perky Didi Crockett (Valerie Franco), who can really slam those skins.
The rest chronicles the preparation for the big show, with simmering tensions between David and Nigel, and with an obnoxious, clueless promoter (Chris Addison) stepping on toes. But Elton John and Paul McCartney provide some moral support. Some of the humor feels a bit outdated, but there are still plenty of warm little giggles, and the whole thing clocks in at just 83 minutes, so it never gets old. "And it feels so real you can feel the feeling!"
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