NEW  YORK — They used to go to 11. Now it’s far closer to zero.

It brings me no pleasure to report that “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” the long-anticipated big screen return for “one of England’s loudest bands,” is a shocking disappointment. The movie gets a few pity chuckles here and there, but considering what a lodestar 1984’s “This is Spinal Tap” has been for so many creative people, one has to wonder what went wrong.

The fake rock group Spinal Tap is the creation of four legends in American comedy: Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins and Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, the often sparring lead singer and lead guitarist, Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls, the bassist and binding agent in the band, and director Rob Reiner as documentarian Marty DiBergi. All four are credited as writers, though famously much of what they’ve done over the years has been improvised.

Reiner, the son of Carl Reiner, well known for his character Mike “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family” before he became a celebrated film director, and Shearer, a voice actor on “The Simpsons” for over 35 years, are both Jewish. Christopher Guest, a member of the House of Lords (really), has some significant Jewish heritage and is also married to Jamie Lee Curtis, who is half-Jewish and recently aided in the restoration of an old Hungarian synagogue. Add this all up — plus the fact that Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer make quick appearances in both movies — and one realizes that Spinal Tap is surprisingly heimish under all those power chords and shaggy wigs.

The first film emerged after the four concocted the characters for a sketch in a television variety show. Lampooning not-particularly-bright rock........

© The Times of Israel