Movie Review: The guys from Spinal Tap are again collectively, however is the reunion price it?

In an early scene from “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” the blisteringly obtuse Nigel Tufnel asks his spouse a query after he and his bandmates have reunited after a few years: “I don’t know whether this was a good idea or not.”

Fans might ask that exact same query after an albeit mercifully brief sequel hits theaters Friday from the mom of all rock mockumentaries, 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap.” Forget about going to 11. This one barely registers at 4.

Despite some nice starry cameos — Paul McCartney’s is definitely the most effective — “Spinal Tap II” leans into the outdated favourite bits too needily and is suffocated by the consistently looming presence of loss of life, a downer. The improv-based comedy is pressured and the laughs barely register. This is a film just for die-hard Tappers.

The construction is the band reunion and countdown to a last live performance by Spinal Tap, who we’re advised disbanded 15 years in the past. They’ve not agreed to reform out of affection, however contract. The venue is in New Orleans, as a result of a Stormy Daniels look fell by. There are simmering intra-band tensions.

Rob Reiner — who directed, starred and co-wrote the unique with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer — has as soon as once more directed the sequel, faithfully enjoying his position as filmmaker Marty DiBergi, full with army baseball cap and a director’s viewfinder round his neck. All the fellows get screenwriting credit score.

We be taught the place the trio has landed in spite of everything these years — one runs a cheese-and-guitar store, one other is the proprietor of a glue museum and a 3rd writes soundtracks to podcasts and the maintain music for telephones.

Mortality is a continuing theme, from the live performance promoter who suggests one or two of the three members die onstage for good publicity — “Would you settle for a coma?” one band member gives — to the Shearer music “Rockin’ in the Urn” to a photograph shoot in a cemetery to the entire thing ending in a hospital. Bones creak once they settle into chairs; paunches are onerous to cover and studying glasses are crucial. This is a film that celebrates these whose “candles cost more than the cake.” Yum, dig in.

Death clearly stalks the seek for a drummer, who has the behavior of coming to an abrupt demise every time they be a part of. That was a form of background joke within the unique, however right here the comedians lean in an excessive amount of, with cameos from reluctant suitors, together with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Questlove — “You’re legendary, but I don’t want to die,” he begs off — all touchdown flat. Just together with well-known individuals is not humorous sufficient.

Valerie Franco ultimately steps behind the drum equipment, bringing a vitality and effervescence to a film that sorely lacks it. But you will cringe when Shearer’s Derek Smalls hits on her, a lady 4 a long time his junior. Shearer additionally at one level will get a vial caught up his nostril, a determined little bit of bodily comedy that should not have made the minimize.

Guest’s Tufnel tries cloyingly to recreate his “up to 11” from the unique movie when he and DiBergi focus on varied guitar pedals — one “is like someone singing through a duck” — and he reveals a secret compartment of cheese in a guitar. It falls aside like brie on a heat day.

The excessive level is when McCartney occurs to cease by the recording studio. He praises the band for his or her skill to rhyme “flesh tuxedo” with “pink torpedo” on the music “Big Bottom.” But quickly issues develop testy between him and McKean’s David St. Hubbins over a music’s course. “We’ll take it under advisement,” McKean curtly tells McCartney about his suggestion. Later, he grouses concerning the sunny McCartney: “He’s got this sort of toxic personality.”

There are additionally appearances by Elton John, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer reprise their outdated roles in blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments. Henry Diltz, one in all rock’s nice photographers, additionally will get a cameo.

John, whose pure comedy instincts are sadly untapped right here, sits in with the band twice, for “ Flower People” and “Stonehenge.” The film usually stalls within the second half because it masses up on performances main as much as the ultimate live performance.

One of the bits that does not work is that the band’s condominium in New Orleans is continually interrupted by a strolling tour of haunted spots. But that is becoming, maybe: “Spinal Tap II” is full of ghosts. It’s like watching a canopy band enjoying the hits however then realizing it is truly the unique band onstage in spite of everything.

“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” a Bleecker Street launch in theaters Friday, is rated R for “language including some sexual references.” Running time: 83 minutes. One and a half stars out of 4.

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