DVD Corner

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Blu-ray Review

This one does not reach 11.

Set 40 years after “This Is Spinal Tap,” “2025’s “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” finds documentarian Marty DiBergi making a new documentary about Spinal Tap being contractually obligated to perform one more concert in New Orleans. The reunion show features founding members Derek Smalls, Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins. Obviously, the band is in need of a new drummer (which they hold auditions for). In the time period since the first film, the band members have gone their separate ways. Nigel runs a cheese shop with his girlfriend and performs with a local folk outfit, David does music for podcasts and on-hold calls and Derek has a glue museum and still works on music. Nigel and David don’t exactly get along anymore, but the two have to work through their issues to make the concert a reality. First they have to get through rehearsals and hire new bandmates first…

“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” feels about 20 years too late. The sequel should have come out when “This Is Spinal Tap” was really taking off as a cult movie decades ago. In 2025, there was very little fanfare about this follow-up as it quickly came and went from theaters. Truth be told, it’s not hard to see why it didn’t ignite the box office. While it’s a watchable rock mockumentary that will have nostalgic appeal to fans of the original, there’s very little to this Rob Reiner directed sequel. It features the expected joke retreads (the drummer gag, Stonehenge, etc.), a plethora of cameos (from Paul McCartney and Questlove to Lars Ulrich and Elton John), and a very slight story about a reunion show. The script by Reiner and stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer is strangely never a laugh riot. You’ll get some chuckles here and there, but there’s actually a decent amount of drama here particularly with the Nigel and David rift. The subplot with the concert promoter Simon lingers on far too long and really goes nowhere too.

Speaking of the cast, Guest, McKean, and Shearer have no problems slipping back into their respective roles. They may be older (which the story addresses), but they can still rock. Valerie Franco shines as the new drummer Didi and the Paul McCartney and Elton John cameos are mildly amusing.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? This is an impressive hi-def transfer. Note: This title is also available on 4K. 

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? A movie about a rock band should have a killer audio track and thankfully this 5.1 track hits all the right notes.

The only extra is a trailer for “Fackham Hall.”

November 5, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Mockumentary, Paul McCartney, Rob Reiner, Rock Music, Spinal Tap 2, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Blu-ray Review, This Is Spinal Tap