THE SPARKS BROTHERS – Hot Docs 2021 review

In what might be the perfect marriage of subject and director, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End) takes on the idiosyncratic pop duo Sparks in The Spark Brothers, a thorough and often hilarious new documentary.

Known as your favourite band’s favourite band, Sparks can be almost impenetrable to newcomers, and Wright’s documentary is a great entry point into the band’s overwhelming discography.

Brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) have been making music together for over 50 years. As Sparks, they’ve released 26 (!) albums, toured the world relentlessly, and made a name for themselves in music nerd circles as a boundary-pushing band that can flip between genres on a dime. Deliberately off-kilter and theatrical in their lyrics and presentation (Ron’s Hitler-style mustache probably did the band no favours in their early years), Sparks gained early success in the UK in the ’70s, but have remained a cult band in North America for decades.

Wright’s doc takes a loving look at the wildly creative Mael brothers, and how their unbridled creativity and dedication have allowed the band to persevere through countless musical trends over the years. Filled with dozens of interviews with musicians and comedians (Sparks are a very funny band) including Beck, Weird Al” Yankovic, and Patton Oswalt, it becomes readily apparent that the band’s unique sound and commitment to following their muse wherever it takes them has struck a chord with artists and fans across generations.

Wright captures the energy and strangeness of the Mael brothers with a sense of deep appreciation and respect that you can almost palpably feel extending out from the screen. Watching The Sparks Brothers is like being led into a wild underworld you never knew existed, a Willy Wonka-like voyage into the highly prolific and gleefully provocative band that has been criminally underrated for far too long.

The Sparks Brothers is screening as part of this year’s Hot Docs online festival from April 29 – May 9. Tickets are available here.