Latest news with #HarryShearer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Look: Spinal Tap rocks with Elton John in 'Spinal Tap 2' pics
July 23 (UPI) -- Bleecker Street released three photos from the upcoming Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues on Wednesday. The film opens September 12. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer return as the heavy metal band from the 1984 comedy This Is Spinal Tap. Fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) chronicles their final performance. In real life, Reiner directed both Spinal Tap movies. One photo for the sequel shows Elton John joining the band at the piano. John performed his own farewell tour in 2023. The sequel also features a cameo from Paul McCartney. The group announced the follow-up movie in 2022 and released a teaser in March. The original This Is Spinal Tap re-released in theaters this month. UPI revisited This Is Spinal Tap upon its re-release and found it still relevant to the history of music. Also, there were a lot more jokes than the memorable amp that goes up to 11. The running joke about Spinal Tap's drummers dying continues as they have their 12th drummer in the sequel. Solve the daily Crossword
UPI
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Look: Spinal Tap rocks with Elton John in 'Spinal Tap 2' pics
1 of 5 | From left, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner return in "Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues," in theaters Sept. 12. Photo courtesy of Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC July 23 (UPI) -- Bleecker Street released three photos from the upcoming Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues on Wednesday. The film opens September 12. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer return as the heavy metal band from the 1984 comedy This Is Spinal Tap. Fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) chronicles their final performance. In real life, Reiner directed both Spinal Tap movies. One photo for the sequel shows Elton John joining the band at the piano. John performed his own farewell tour in 2023. The sequel also features a cameo from Paul McCartney. The group announced the follow-up movie in 2022 and released a teaser in March. The original This Is Spinal Tap re-released in theaters this month. UPI revisited This Is Spinal Tap upon its re-release and found it still relevant to the history of music. Also, there were a lot more jokes than the memorable amp that goes up to 11. The running joke about Spinal Tap's drummers dying continues as they have their 12th drummer in the sequel.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Spinal Tap' re-release proves deeper than catchphrases
1 of 5 | From left, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean star in "This Is Spinal Tap," back in theaters Saturday. Photo courtesy of Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC LOS ANGELES, July 3 (UPI) -- This Is Spinal Tap, returning to theaters Saturday, has given society catchphrases like "turn it up to 11." Revisiting the comedy ahead of its forthcoming sequel shows there is much more to it than the most memorable parts, such as going to 11 or dead drummers. Spinal Tap is a documentary satire following Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), a filmmaker documenting the heavy metal band Spinal Tap. David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) make up the band, as they can't seem to keep a drummer alive. The plot follows the release of Spinal Tap's album "Smell the Glove," which provokes controversy over cover art that can only be described by publicist Bobbi Flekman (Fran Drescher). The documentary also follows several comically disastrous performances and tensions between band members. Perhaps most important to Spinal Tap's longevity is that the group's music is actually good, as well as being funny. "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" is absurdly redundant but undeniably hummable. In addition, "Big Bottom" has blatantly sexual lyrics but the rhyme scheme is sound. The lyric "How can I leave this behind" has a rather clever double meaning. The characters are endearingly oblivious to how offensive they are being. The film is also steeped in music history. There is a black and white scene of Spinal Tap's early days as a Beatles-style band known as The Thamesmen. Their battles over their previous name, The Originals, showcase an irreverent wit with linguistics. The Beatles provide another reference when the censored version of "Smell the Glove" resembles The White Album. So too does David's girlfriend Jeanine (June Chadwick) impose upon the band like Yoko Ono reportedly did, though the real-life Beatles have debunked that Ono, John Lennon's girlfriend and later wife, was a source of tension. The actors perform some impeccable slapstick comedy during stage performances. Nigel lies on his back while playing but then can't get back up without a stagehand's help, while Derek pounds on a plastic pod that won't open despite prying and blowtorching it. Nigel also plays a guitar using a violin. Whether that actually made sound or the sound was added later, it's a brilliantly visual blend of classical orchestra and rock n' roll. Of course, the mini Stonehenge remains the most iconic misalignment of scale. This Is Spinal Tap's lasting legacy can be seen in its influence on the world of documentary comedies. Guest picked up the reins with Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration, and he objects to the term "mockumentary." Guest simply calls them comedies in a documentary style. Fear of a Black Hat took a similar approach to the rap world and Bob Roberts to politics, while television series from The Office to St. Denis Medical used it to add humor to mundane scenarios. Reiner was the real director of the film too, managing improvisations between the cast members. These skilled performers clearly follow the "yes, and" rule of improv. When describing naming their band The Originals, each character brings up another hypocritical name like "The Regulars." Nobody contradicts a co-star's suggestion, and they add to each other. This Is Spinal Tap shows the importance of timing in improvisation. Nigel explaining his amplifiers with one extra setting is funny because when Marty asks the obvious questions, Nigel pauses before re-asserting "These go to 11." The members of Spinal Tap are buffoons but also real characters, which enhances the commitment to the bit. The growing tensions between Nigel and David are real, as are their frustrations with marketing disrespecting their artistic integrity. Their artistic integrity may be misguided when it comes to "Smell the Glove" or Stonehenge, but it's funny because they believe it. Spinal Tap II has a tough act to follow with four decades of fans quoting the original movie. Classic bands reunite as often as original casts do for legacy sequels, however, so there is fertile ground for a new film to cover. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues set for 2025 release with original cast returning
A sequel to the 1984 cult classic This Is Spinal Tap is officially on the way. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is set to hit theaters on September 12, 2025, reuniting Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean as the legendary fictional rock band. Director Rob Reiner is also returning, reprising his role as filmmaker Marty Di Bergi. The film will feature the original writing team of Guest, McKean, Shearer, and Reiner. Fran Drescher is also returning as Bobbi Flekman, adding to the nostalgia factor. The key art for the sequel cleverly incorporates the iconic 'Stonehenge' reference from the original film, a detail that has delighted fans. While excitement is high, comedy sequels often struggle to match the brilliance of their predecessors. Few exceptions, such as Addams Family Values and 22 Jump Street, have managed to surpass the originals. However, the return of the original creative team offers hope that Spinal Tap II could defy the odds. One concern is the September release date, coinciding with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Historically, major studio films released in September are not always positioned for success, raising questions about studio confidence. However, the enduring popularity of This Is Spinal Tap and the return of its beloved cast may still make it a hit. Fans eagerly await the sequel, hoping for a worthy follow-up to one of the greatest rock mockumentaries of all time.
