Devo

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.

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!

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.

This documentary tells Devo's story to the drum beat of Devo. It stays true to the Devo's creative, brilliant and very quirky traits.

The story is mostly told by leading band members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. A lot of stuff they talk about would be known to Devo fans, maybe some stories were new or defined better. They talk about their evolution from art students to bumbling musicians and how they came up with the raw Devo concept.

Right from the start Devo were cynical and frustrated with the world, and stayed that way throughout their Devo journey. They take you through their clumsy early years as a band during the early to mid 1970's playing in small clubs and getting booed. Then in 1978 they gain a huge audience by playing on a TV show. A couple of years later Devo peaked with their hit song Whip it, and with some frustration they slowly faded away. Devo were innovative and excellent musicians tight and sharp, but the documentary doesn't give too much credit to this.

Once again, the documentary confirms that it is very difficult to put Devo into a musical genre, they just don't really fit anywhere. Once you see this documentary you might understand why. If you were/are a fan of Devo you should enjoy this. If you don't know or understand what Devo was all about, this might confuse you more!

As a teenager, I first heard Devo's music in 1978. I didn't know what I was listening to, but I liked it. I was drifting away from pop music and needed something else. Devo was a total different world of music. Tell people you liked Devo and most people would roll their eyes.

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.