‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’ first reviews

The amps are cranked up again for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Rob Reiner’s long-awaited mockumentary sequel reuniting the hapless heavy metal legends after four decades of satire-soaked glory. As first reviews trickle in ahead of its September 12 release, critics are divided — Exclaim! dubs it a “shit sandwich” for fumbling the band’s reunion woes, while Consequence hails it as “a legacy sequel worthy of this band’s legacy,” praising the joyful chemistry of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer.

Critics chime in

Diving deeper into Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Yahoo Entertainment keeps the volume low, rating it “about 5” and noting the extended cameos from Paul McCartney and Elton John add sparkle but can’t amp up a middling script. It’s a sober nod to nostalgia without the original’s bite.

Meanwhile, NPR tunes into the fun, declaring the aging metalheads in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues “still dialed up to 11,” with Rob Reiner confirming the band hasn’t grown “emotionally or musically.” This take celebrates the satire’s enduring riff on rock excess.

The Evening Standard cranks it higher, calling Spinal Tap II: The End Continues a blow-out where “the rock gods of mockumentary turn it up to 10½,” crediting Elton John and Paul McCartney for superstar sparks amid the band’s cheeky reunion chaos.

More riffs from reviewers

Film critic Bill Bria strikes a high note on Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, calling it “a hilarious sequel about legacies that isn’t desperate to prove its mettle (or metal) & ends up proving it anyway.” He praises how Reiner and company recapture the original’s cheeky vibe with added heart, keeping the satire pitch perfect without overplaying the nostalgia card.

Over on X, Junior Felix amps up the enthusiasm for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, deeming it “non stop hilariously smart sequel that you’ll raise your lighter for.” He highlights the heavy, loud riffs feeling as fresh as four decades ago, celebrating the band’s triumphant return to form in this mockumentary reunion.

Will Landman joins the chorus, tweeting that Spinal Tap II: The End Continues proves “the band still has the juice 40 years later.” He likens reuniting with these characters to hanging out with old friends, noting the blast of seeing Reiner, McKean, Shearer, and Guest together again in all their satirical glory.

Fans rock on X

One X user, YeetingNoodle, is all in for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, calling it “really good, really funny” and a “perfectly fine sequel” with a solid 9/10 rating. They shrug off naysayers, noting high online scores around 80% or 7-8/10, perfect for a family watch that amps up the laughs without overdoing the nostalgia.

Court Of Lore chimes in enthusiastically on X about Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, deeming it “a blast – really funny, with the humor hitting just right.” They praise the action-packed vibes and top-notch acting, admitting it’s not flawless but delivers a “poetic and quite satisfying” ending that overcomes initial criticisms.

Richard Cetrone defends Spinal Tap II: The End Continues on X, highlighting a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 72% and audience love at 93%, suggesting “very few people hated it.” He personally crowns it a “masterpiece,” echoing widespread sentiment that the mockumentary’s satirical edge still shreds after all these years.

Time Out joins the Spinal Tap II: The End Continues chorus with a welcoming vibe, noting how the sequel fits into a summer of spoof revivals like Naked Gun and Spaceballs II, embracing those “loveable rockers” without overanalyzing the mockumentary magic.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues garners mixed vibes, with critic scores hovering around 70% fresh, praising the band’s reunion antics but critiquing script stumbles—audience ratings spike higher, loving the nostalgic riffs and star-studded cameos.

Letterboxd users amp up Spinal Tap II: The End Continues praise, with early logs calling it a “worthy follow-up” that recaptures the original’s absurd humor, though some note it doesn’t quite hit the high notes of innovation, settling for solid fan service.

Final verdict

Whether Spinal Tap II: The End Continues cranks your amp to 11 or leaves you on a flat note, early buzz from Hollywood Reporter (“more chuckle-inducing than guffaw-inspiring”) and Variety (“a cheeky send-off”) suggests it’s a nostalgic riff worth catching—proving these metal mockers still shred for fans craving that satirical spark.