Devo

I spent my college years and beyond listening to DEVO and the many groundbreaking musicians and bands who emerged throughout the 70s and 80s. This documentary perfectly captures the talent, focus, uncontrollable urge, weirdness, and circumstances that shaped and catapulted DEVO. Highly recommended, even if you can't stand or understand their music. DEVO's many influences that helped shape rock 'n' roll and performance art are undeniable.

Weird, strange, quirky, futuristic, innovative and all out rockin', Devo was unlike any other. An oddball hodgepodge of bizarro literature, Experimental music, Sci-Fi garb and pointedly biting anti-American satire that extends all over the globe, this motley troublemaking geeks rode out a run of great music and striking visuals during their peak late 1970s - early 1980s run. Fueled by the Kent State Massacre (which some of the band members witnessed firsthand), a desire to be different visually and musically, a manifesto unflattering to the human species and Punk Rock, the Akron, Ohio spud boys became an unlikely success offering a very different slant to Popular Music at the time.

"DEVO" charts the surreal saga in characteristic fashion: colorful and over the top in its barrage of visuals comprising interviews with the band members (an impressively articulate Gerald Casale stands out) as they go toe to toe with snippets of live footage and a varied array of films and images from vintage reels to historical snapshots. The result is a cornucopia of sight and sound and great music.

For a band as fun and as eccentric the documentary strangely moves at a conventional and sedate pace at the first half. A lack of perspective ensues with a failure to give emphasis on the band's impact and influence on music and the entertainment industry as a whole. Also, the band members' careers after the band's heyday are given short mention which is a shame considering Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale pursued eclectic and quite interesting artistic endeavors. This is a doc that could have been another hour long.

Whether looking like aliens in janitor's uniforms or a bunch of nerdy autists in early 20th-Century swimwear, all topped by those memorable saucer-shaped hats, Devo, all robotically-synchronized stage movements and mainstream infiltration-subversion, and again, great music (re-listening to their songs I was struck how fresh and much better they sounded) left a distinct and enduring mark. A fine tribute to a brilliant band, this is one fans and Rock enthusiasts should see.

This has to be one of the best and most well put together movie down to the overall feel with the music and the aesthetic of DEVO absolutely is amazing. I wish this documentary would be released to the public and not just in film festivals because it has truly inspired me and I've been trying to find this documentary since i saw it for the first time. This has also striked my idea on what my style is and has changed it for the better. I love how unique DEVO is as a whole and they are truly inspiring with their visuals and music. I truly hope that this eventually comes out and this is my last resort to write a review in hopes the director sees this!

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Chris Smith creator of "American Movie" creates a fun documentary about the band DEVO who are widely misunderstood with interesting choices of music, background observations and conversations. DEVO's background and story is pretty interesting as the documentary does a good job on exploring the band with some fun insights.

Since I am not the biggest music documentary person, I found certain aspects feeling slow and uneventful towards the second act. Including some of the conversations feeling a little dry. Overall, there are some really nice fun moments together.

I learned a lot about Devo today, mainly how crazy they were! They had a plan and they stuck to it and became known around the world. Its a good thin MTV came along when it did or they may not have made it. Makes me want to get one of those plastic hair pieces. Satisfaction is a great video as well as Whip It, love that song.