Yet again, I’m in the minority, it seems. Most sequels, albeit with a few exceptions, are not very successful. The recent Todd Phillips ‘ Joker sequel and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice weren’t blazing triumphs, although I liked the former very much, as I felt it explored the nature of celebrity earned through notoriety very well, and I thought Phoenix and Gaga were both excellent. So, it seems that only I liked the Spinal Tap sequel. Critics mauled it. Audiences weren’t eǹthused either. You could almost hear the global shrug.
It’s of course a very sad day to be covering this, as the shocking death of both director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele was announced today. Even before this sad news came through, I’d been thinking about this film as I only got round to watching it last week. So here’s my verdict: it’s often brilliant. I had been reticent, because the original is perfection. But the reason why it’s so effective is the same reason the original is. It’s all about thwarted ambition.
Like the film’s Christopher Guest, who portrays hapless band philosopher Nigel Tufnel, Reiner finds humour and pathos in the fact that the band are even less relevant now than in the 1984 original. But there’s no cruelty here. We don’t laugh at the band- as with Guest’s peerless trilogy Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show and A Mighty Win,d we feel for the characters, however misjudged their ideas and decisions. It’s the small details that resonate: Derek Smalls’ Museum of Glue, David St Hubbins’ hold music and the cancellation of An Evening With Stormy Daniels- the modern equivalent of “Puppet Show plus Spinal Tap”.
In one heart -breaking scene, the 1984 iteration of the band smile at each other, and at the camera, and they look so young, cheeky and vital. It’s a poignant chronicle of the passing of time, and Tap, like Alan Partridge, are delusional, still prone to popping a finger at their mirrored reflections, winking, and declaring, “Still got it”.. Even as the mirror suggests otherwise. We’ve all been there. Still, we’ll always have Stonehenge. Rest in peace, the Reiners. You were wonderful. Thank you for the laughs, such a big part of my youth.
Hit The North 