The mockumentary has proven to be quite a popular film genre. Shot in the vein of a documentary, it explores a subject or individual while made to appear as real as possible- or as absurd as can be. Look no further than Rob Reiner’s 1984 “rockumentary”. This is Spinal Tap, which focuses on a group touted as “British’s loudest band” as they come to a crossroads in their long career. Filmed on a small budget and quick shooting schedule, the movie became a surprise hit and quickly gained a cult following. It proved so successful that at first many people believed the fictional characters were indeed a genuine band, leading to an inserted disclaimer added to inform viewers Spinal Tap did not exist. However, in time, the actors ended up becoming a live group in real life. During the 1980s and through the 2000s, they would reprise their roles for live concerts while continuing to release music. They even appeared on Saturday Night Live and made a guest appearance on The Simpsons.

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Now, the group has resurfaced once again in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which serves as a sequel to the original film. Reiner is back in the director’s chair. Along with Reiner, the original cast of Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Fran Drescher, and Paul Shaffer have returned. But the question remains: can a sequel made forty years after its predecessor prove to be a successful film? It also poses another question: are reunions of aging rock bands funny enough to explore?

Set forty-two years after their disastrous “Smell the Glove” Tour (as depicted in the first movie), Spinal Tap are now among the last groups of 1960s and 70s rock and roll era. Apart from a 1992 reunion tour and a few 2009 concerts, the band members have gone their separate ways and haven’t performed for over fifteen years. Their attempts to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were in vain, concluding with the organization writing a rejection letter that states “F*** off, Sincerely yours.”. Lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) is running a cheese and guitar shop, in which customers can exchange cheese for instruments and vice-versa, and playing in a local folk group. Bass player Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) runs a glue museum as its curator, but he is still working on his own songs as a side project. Finally, lead singer/guitarist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) works as a composer of instrumentals for on-hold phone music and true-crime podcast shows. David is currently on the outs with Nigel, because he believes the latter had an affair with his ex-wife Jeanine (June Chadwick), who has entered a convent and become a nun.

Marty DiBergi (Reiner) has been at a low point ever since the first movie came out. Unable to get high-profile jobs in Hollywood, he now teaches filmmaking at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts. Following the death of Spinal Tap’s original manager Ian Faith, his daughter Hope (Kerry Godliman) discovers she has inherited a contract that stipulates the band must stage a final concert. After Marty meets up with Hope, he seizes upon the idea of reuniting the group for a farewell show while filming yet another documentary.

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Initially, there are a few stumbling blocks in getting the band back together. While Derek is game for a reunion, David and Nigel are still on frosty terms with each other, but they agree to do a farewell concert. Another issue is the lack of a drummer, because a number of Tap’s drummers (at least 11 or 12) have died in unusual circumstances or simply disappeared. Much like how two past drummers spontaneously combusted onstage, their most recent drummer is alleged to have sneezed himself to death, but this is never really elaborated on or explained. None of rock music’s biggest names- including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ Chad Smith- want to join the band for that reason. Following a series of frustrating auditions, the band hires Didi Crockett (Valerie Franco) to handle the drums and “Caucasian Jeff” (CJ Vanston) as their new keyboard player.

As preparations for the concert begin, tensions start to flare between David and Nigel. Having known each other since grade school, the pair wonder if they can continue with their friendship any longer. The group relocates to New Orleans, Louisiana to rehearse for the show, but they’re continually put off by dealing with Cajun culture and New Orleans ghost tours. Furthermore, their new concert promoter Simon Howler (Chris Addison) proves to be a real sleazy type. He proposes a way to secure Tap’s legacy by suggesting one of the group members die onstage, but none of the group are particularly keen on that particular idea.

Christopher Guest proves himself a bona fide comedian. His doleful, deadpan expressions are hilarious to watch onscreen. As Nigel, he exhibits an earnest yet dim-witted quality that is fascinating to observe. One of the film’s highlights is his obsession with cheese; this goes up to eleven (pun intended) with a secret compartment in the body of his guitar containing a small cheese grater tucked inside.

Michael McKean continues to delight as David St. Hubbins. Also known for his roles of Lenny on Laverne & Shirley and Chuck on Better Call Saul, the veteran character actor exudes a dogged sense of stubbornness and musical ability. His most proudest non-Tap achievement is winning an award for composing an on-hold instrumental musical piece. McKean’s funniest moments are the most understated ones, such as trying to downplay the casualty list of former Tap drummers. What’s most frustrating are the recycled arguments with Guest on their friendship and split, because nothing is really resolved (more on that below).

Harry Shearer is hilarious to watch as Derek Smalls. Despite being older and greyer, the comedian gives a friendly naivety that is endearing to behold. Since the majority of the plot concerns Nigel and David’s feud, Shearer is mostly relegated to being an observer, but he does get a number of funny one-liners. He also demonstrates a knack for physical comedy, such as getting a strand of glue stuck up his nose. Another memorable gag is his pun-laden songs, like the symphonic “Hell Toupee” piece he performs with an orchestra.

Reiner returns as Marty DiBergi, and it is amusing to see him deal with these aging rockers once more. He even gets in on the humour, such as knocking over a stack of folding chairs and attempting to save a woman from choking. A recurring gag in the film involves Tap describing his previous documentary feature as “a hatchet job”, to which he visibly bristles at. One scene has him being described by the band as not being as sneaky or devious as before.

Valerie Franco provides a welcome, vibrant personality to the role of Didi. This is also her acting debut in a feature film. As the group’s first female band member, she is both likeable and energetic. Despite the risks surrounding Tap drummers, the actress gives it her all and shows as talented at pounding the skins. It also helps that Franco is also a drummer in real life, adding authenticity to the role.

Chris Addison comes the closest thing to a villain as the film has. The actor’s slimy take on Simon Howler is practically oozing with smarminess and insincerity. Yet he feels underserved by the plot and lack of depth. Since the focus is primarily on the band members, the audience never really gets a handle on this new character’s motivations. Ultimately, Simon’s flaking out on the band in the third act is sorely disappointing, because there could have been more done with the character.The film’s humour is spot-on and quite enjoyable to behold. While the first movie dealt with a group of rockers pushing forty while behaving like unintelligent, immature teens, the sequel concerns a group of seventy-somethings trying to get their act together and being unable to stop acting petty. One of the funniest moments concerns Derek’s attempts at songwriting (“Rocking in the Urn”). Another involves the marketing team’s plan to sell tap water in a Stonehenge-shaped bottle. Finally, Simon conceives a plan for an International House of Rock Museum, which is really a converted IHOP restaurant.

Perhaps the best moments comes in the form of surprise cameos. Paul McCartney shows up to meet Spinal Tap and praise one of their songs as “almost literature.”. He is shown as being almost in awe of meeting the band but flabbergasted at their childish bickering. Another highlight is Elton John, who wishes to perform with the band at their farewell show. He also provides one of the funniest lines in the movie, which this writer will not spoil for readers. All the while, John’s husband David Furnish appears to act bemused, even bewildered, at the antics and ridiculousness that his husband is getting involved with.

Since this is a rockumentary, music itself proves to be a major highlight of the film. A few of the classic Tap numbers are included- “Listen to the Flower People”, “Big Bottom”, “Cups and Cakes”, and “Hell Hole” among them. Yes, the epic “Stonehenge” does appear as the climatic number, and it also includes a hilarious gag involving a certain monument. “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” is not performed in the film per se, but it does appear in archive footage and a guide track for the auditioning drummers. However, there are also new songs composed. Shearer’s “Let’s Just Rock Again” and “I Kissed a Girl” are two of which that especially stand out. There is another song titled “Cry Cry Cry” that was cut from the first film, but features here in a flashback scene to Tap’s 1980s era. It is quite moving to watch, as Guest and McKean deliver perfect harmony on the track.

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What is frustrating, however, are the other cameos and the lack of proper backstory for the plot. Garth Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood show up in a cameo of themselves doing a live version of “Big Bottom” in concert, but it doesn’t really explain how this cover helped reignite interest in Spinal Tap. Fran Drescher (best known for her sitcom The Nanny) appears as Tap’s former PR Bobbi Fleckman, as does Paul Shaffer as band Arti Fufkin. Yet these Tap associates don’t really get much to do, other than show how jaded they have become with the music industry and quit. As a result, it feels little more than fan service at best. June Chadwick also returns as Jeanine, but her presence is nothing more than a cameo and a quick gag. This proves to be disappointing, because the character played an important role in the original film. Here, the viewers learn early on that David and Nigel haven’t been talking for fifteen years due to an aforementioned affair the latter allegedly had with Jeanine, which is vehemently denied. By the time the truth of what really happened is discovered at the film’s conclusion, there is no big emotional pay-off; the reveal is just a plot twist done for a cheap laugh. It feels somewhat disappointing, because Chadwick could have easily had a larger role in the story to explore the interpersonal dynamics of the group.

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Overall, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is a hilarious film to watch. Guest, McKean, Shearer, and Reiner are a joy to behold. Viewers can easily believe these elderly men are still stuck in the past and unable to move forward. McCartney and John’s supporting roles are quite funny to watch, especially with regards as to how they respond to the hilarity. In addition, the film’s music is quite enjoyable to listen to. Three and a half stars out of four (and not eleven).