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Him being a man I revere, I spent a fair portion of my weekend thinking about it being Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday, pleased that he’d made it to such a wonderful age. As it happens I also watched Spinal Tap II, it just having come out for home viewing, keen to catch the return of the director who back in the 80s made two of my all time favourite movies. Clearly while doing so I had no expectations that a day later I would wake to the news that he had died. 

I have written about the work of Rob Reiner before but to put it succinctly he probably had a greater impact on my love of cinema than any other director. Sure, it was George Lucas who took me by the hand as a child and lead me into this wonderful world, but as the man behind 1989’s When Harry Met Sally and 1987’s The Princess Bride, Reiner was behind the parts that characterise the most personal and distinct aspects of my relationship with this art form. 

Rob Reiner’s father Carl was actually the creator of The Dick Van Dyke show, so as a family their legacy goes back a while too. His own son Nick looked to be carrying this on through screenwriting but now it appears he might be the man responsible for both of his parents’ violent demise so this really is the end of the mark they have made on the industry. 

It is sad but fitting that Reiner’s final movie would turn out to be a belated sequel to the first one he released back in 1984. He had effectively retired after releasing Shock and Awe eight years ago. This was a film designed to rattle a few cages in The White House which is something he has nobly continued to do through other means since, meaning that one particular celebrity who has spoken on his death today has not done so kindly. He returned this year with Spinal Tap II: The End Continues though and while it is far from being his best movie, it does demonstrate that charm, affection, humanity and wit that did define his career at it’s height. 

The original Spinal Tap film from four decades ago was largely improvised by its central cast of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Reiner himself. You didn’t always get a sense of this, so brilliant were the jokes and characterisation. This time it does feel a bit more like they are making it up as they go along. It is still gently amusing though and it is good to be back in the company of this rock band, who started out as made up but effectively became real, touring and even playing Glastonbury in 2009. 

At the start of the movie each band member has gone his own way but they are brought back by contractual obligation and most of the film sees them rehearsing before one big reunion gig. They are met by various rock legends throughout the running time but mostly it is just them jamming and riffing which is quite the delight. Valerie Franco brings a welcome energy that they themselves rarely show, as the groups new drummer and Chris Addison brings a less welcome vibe as his character struggles to gel fictionally and in reality. All in all this is an entertaining way to spend 83 minutes.

If you are a fan of This is Spinal Tap then I’d say to give this some time. If you’re not then it might be harder to get into. In light of this weekend’s events though I’m just glad that Rob Reiner made it back onto the big screen where he once brought more joy, emotion, laughs, tension and warmth than the majority of other filmmakers. He more than earned it and I am deeply saddened that this cannot continue.

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Maybe you could come over and read it to me again tomorrow, grandpa.