Heavier Trip

**_The band has to escape prison and play Wacken to save the farm_** Like the first movie from six years prior, this is a quirky and amusing spoof of the metal subculture, mostly from the perspective of northern Europe. The humor tends to be of the droll variety, much of which will go over the heads of those unfamiliar with the subculture. For instance, the dubious producer talks to someone on the phone and mentions Lars; it turns out he’s talking to James. Meanwhile there are witty references to Mustaine, Lemmy, J-pop metal, Dokken, and so forth. It’s best to watch the original film first since it’s more immediately enjoyable. This one goes deeper, as the title implies, conveying somewhat heavy insights while remaining silly and comical. I can see it playing better on repeat viewings since it’s sort of overstuffed. Released in 2024, it runs 1h 36m and was shot in Finland, Lithuania and northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). GRADE: B