SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES

'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' reunites us with the band Spinal Tap. After 15 years of not performing together, the remaining members of the band are reuniting for one final show. Nigel (Christopher Guest, 'Night at the Museum 2', 'The Princess Bride'), the lead guitarist who now runs a cheese and guitar shop in Berwick-upon-Tweed, David (Michael McKean, 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story', ''The Meddler'), the lead singer who has been composing music for true crime podcasts and hold music, and Derek (Harry Shearer, TV's 'The Simpsons', 'Father Figures'), the lead bass player who runs the Museum of Glue. The trio are reuniting after a falling out and now planning to put the past behind them and to perform one last time.

'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' plays more like a nostalgic trip than a successful successor. While it has laughs and it's fun to live in this world again, it doesn't quite live up to its landmark predecessor. 'This is Spinal Tap' shaped comedy in a way that can't be replicated, and this film doesn't try to touch that legacy while also knowing it can't live up to it.

There really are no comedy set pieces that stand out. It's a lot of little laughs, lacking any iconic moments. The original also has the feel of a real documentary, while this time around it feels far too polished and filled with big cameos that make this feel a tad more generic.

'Spinal Tap II' is purely for die-hard fans of one of the most famous fake bands of all time. It's nice to reunite with the pioneers of the mockumentary genre and see them together one last time - even if it's hitting a weaker note.