THE SPARKS BROTHERS – Review

Now, this is turning out to be quite the unusual weekend, at the movies (though things are still a bit strange in general as we stumble back a “normal”). Another engaging “show biz” documentary feature debuts the same day as the superb profile of prolific performer Rita Moreno. At some venues, they may actually be playing next to each other, or across the multiplex hallway. While that elegant EGOT made a name for herself in music (see, the G for Grammy is right there), this other flick delves into the story of a rock band. But they do have another big thing in common: longevity. Ms. M has been performing for 80 years (and in the movies for 73), this duo has been putting out recordings (24 albums so far) for 50 years. Still, they’re considered by some as a “cult” rather than a mainstream act (their legions of devoted rapid fans would vehemently argue this). And somehow scandal has never threatened to split these siblings, unlike Oasis and the Bee Gees. The stage name for the band is Sparks, which they prefer to the moniker that some record studio marketers came up with as a “sort of” tribute to Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and (sometimes) Zeppo. So if you meet these talented fellows, don’t call them THE SPARKS BROTHERS.

The doc logically begins with the brothers, Ron and Russell Mael. filmed in black and white against a solid blank backdrop. That same treatment is given to their many fans, some quite famous, who pop up to sing their praises before the big “origin story” begins in earnest. And they surprised me right at the start by revealing that they grew up in Pacific Palisades, CA! All these years I was certain (along with lotsa’ folks) that they were British or perhaps German! The two (Ron’s the elder) were smitten with the “British Invasion” (Mom drove them to Vegas for a Beatles concert). The arts were in their blood as their father was a busy commercial artist/illustrator (I thought of a dad-version of Richard Jenkins’ character in THE SHAPE OF WATER). But the guys were football stars who slowly drifted into music and film. During their college time they formed the band “Urban Renewal Project” which became “Halfnelson” before finally becoming Sparks when they signed with Warner Brothers records. The label set them up on a series of live gigs in rough “dive bars”. Russell even split his head open doing a botched “bit” with a prop mallet. Relocating to Europe, they began to garner a following as they “locked down” their on-stage persona. Russell was the “pop idol” frontman (one ex-producer calls him “the cutie-pie”) playing to the screaming teen girls while Ron awkwardly, almost robotically, played the keyboard while giving the audience a creepy glare. Oh, and that facial hair! This prompted Shelly Winters to ask Pete Townsend on the old Dick Cavett talk show, “What’s the deal with that guy in the Hitler mustache?!”. They never took themselves too seriously which irked some critics while delighting their followers. Albums had pun titles like “Kimino My House” while photos on the “Propaganda” album showed them bound and gagged as though they’re being abducted by sinister forces. The doc traces the ups and downs of their career as they deal with changing music tastes, even working with “disco kingpin” Giorgio Moroder, and collaborating with other musicians like Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos. And all the while they keep creating while continuing to enjoy each other’s company, even as they attempt the near-impossible: the 2008 “Sparks Spectacular”, a 21-day concert experience in which they performed an entire album, live in chronological order, every night. Now, that’s dedication, perhaps mixed with a bit of madness.

And here’s another surprise, though not quite in the “They’re Americans!” bombshell. This is the first documentary by Edgar (BABY DRIVER) Wright. Good move, in case he tires of fiction. The affection he has for the film’s subjects is palpable, to the point of joining in with the other “talking heads”. Still, he doesn’t gloss over the band’s missteps and flops. They finally scored a slot on the BBC TV staple “Top of the Pops”, only to get pulled minutes before airtime. And there is the brothers’ flirtation with film, working on unmade projects with Jacques Tati and Tim Burton (too bad he didn’t drop in and explain the whole “Mai, the Psychic Girl’ fiasco). Oh, it looks like they’ll be doing the songs for a new movie musical, ANNETTE, so ya’ just gotta’ hang on. And that’s another of the story’s big themes: never throwing in the towel. When they come to a “brick wall’, the duo forms a new route past it. Wright uses lots of clever animation techniques to balance out the interviews and archival footage. There are manipulated paper cut-outs, stop motion puppets and good ole’ hand-drawn 2D cell animation. Not that the commenters get tedious, mind you. There are comic actors such as Mike Myers and Patton Oswald along with writer Neil Gaimen and so many musicians/fans from Beck to members of Duran Duran. One of the most articulate is ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, who naturally digs their snarky sense of humor. Plus there are stories from hardcore non-celeb Sparks fans. Most swoon over the dreamy Russell, but an unexpectedly large number are drawn to the eccentric Ron (they go wild over his clumsy dance moves, highlighted by his frozen maniacal grimace) Of course the Maels “geek out” sometimes as when Paul McCartney mimicked Ron in his “Get On Up” music video. Viewers of “rock docs’ (like MTV’s “Behind the Music”) may anticipate a big clash or blow-up. It never comes, no drug-fueled rants, or bruised egos, or even manipulating romantic partners. The two seem to mesh better than most siblings. We see Ron driving to Russell’s modest studio/home as though he’s going into his 9-to-5 job. And somehow that creative zeal is still there. That and a desire to try new things and never “play it safe”. Here’s hoping that this lovingly produced ode to THE SPARKS BROTHERS inspires several more generations of artists and musicians. And make sure you stick around for the wacky and wondrous end credits. The boys know how to send you out smiling.

3.5 Out of 4

THE SPARKS BROTHERS opens in select theatres everywhere on Friday, June 18, 2021