‘Pavements’ Review

This review was made possible by Popped receiving an advanced screener of Pavements.

Who’s your favorite rock band of the ’90s? Nirvana? Sonic Youth? The Smashing Pumpkins? Those are likely answers, but despite their prevalence, they’re not the subject of this kickass documentary — that would be Pavement. They aren’t the ’90s band. They’re the other ’90s band. Not the most famous, not the most hits, not the most star power, but perhaps… the world’s most important band? That’s the thesis this eclectic genre mashup of a film presents to spectacularly ironic effect.

A Word That Rhymes With Pavement

So, who is Pavement exactly? Whether they just weren’t your particular jam back in the day, or you’re a member of Gen Z cursed with being born in the wrong decade, here are the basics. The indie rock band began in 1989 in suburban Stockton, California, founded by frontman Stephen Malkmus. Other band members include guitarist Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg, bassist Mark Ibold, multi-instrumentalist Bob Nastanovich, and drummers Gary Young and Steve West (Yes, two drummers… it’s complicated). While grunge and punk were some of the prevailing sounds of the genre at the time, Pavement’s niche was a chill, carefree slacker vibe. They delivered on that front with five albums over 10 years, until they went their separate ways in 1999.

Now, it’s not ultimately necessary to know even that much going into Pavements. The documentary does an admirable job telling the story of the lead-up, formation, evolution, and breakup of the band — ultimately culminating in a reunion in 2022 when it was filmed. It’s informative and simple enough for anyone out of the loop to follow, but the narrative of the band’s journey is almost too simple. Pavement’s slacker rock is matched only by the band members’ easygoing personalities (except maybe a drummer… again, it’s complicated), which means their rise and fall isn’t all too dramatic. But director Alex Ross Perry understands that, and ingeniously decides to depict it in the most dramatic way, which will even have longtime fans engaged in a fresh, exciting way.

Into the Pavement-verse

”You’ve been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to your life.” That’s not just a lyric from Pavement’s song “Shady Lane,” but also a hint at the meta storytelling in Pavements. While the expected talking head interviews of traditional documentaries are here in some form, there’s far more at play here than a straightforward history and reunion. Alex Ross Perry conceived the Everything Everywhere All At Once of documentaries, placing the band’s songs and members in a multiverse of artistic lenses. These come in the form of the stage play Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical, the biopic Range Life: A Pavement Story, and the museum exhibition “Pavements 1933-2022.” All of these are interspersed with one another, sometimes transitioning through shared songs, and occasionally all playing on screen at once. The one downside is that the length of the documentary exceeds the 2–hour mark, but it’s well worth it for the added depth that comes with this complex, creative endeavor.

The point of these three projects is to apply a higher level of gravity to a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously. For instance, Slanted! Enchanted! is a jukebox musical using the band’s discography. Viewers are brought into the process of auditions, rehearsals, and the big performance, and it seems almost like… a big joke reminiscent of Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal. And in a way, it sort of is, but through the process, we see real artists sincerely dissecting and performing Pavement’s lyrics like they’re of the utmost importance. Similarly, Range Life brings together acclaimed stars such as Joe Keery, Jason Schwartzman, Fred Hechinger, Tim Heidecker, and more to assemble a Bohemian Rhapsody-style biopic. This is easily one of the highlights of the film, as Keery shines in the self-aware parody and making of, really honing in on studying Malkmus as a character. There’s some true comedy gold, such as a bit clearly poking fun at Austin Butler’s Elvis accent sticking around unnaturally long.

While the jukebox musical was real, but a deeply committed bit, and the biopic was… less real (Perry definitely didn’t film a whole movie) and also a joke, “Pavements 1933-2022” is a much more earnest celebration of the band’s legacy. The museum exhibition opened alongside their reunion shows, and commemorated the band with everything from memorabilia to TVs playing old MTV music videos. There’s still room for gags here too, though, with fake items on display such as a band member’s toenail clipping. It’s another way to treat the lax band with a disproportionate weight, seeping the doc in irony while understanding and honoring their fun energy.

‘Pavements’ – Final Thoughts

Pavements is the ultimate celebration of the seminal slacker rock band of the ’90s and their legacy. It’s a meta, multi-medium mashup that fleshes out the band’s personality with self-aware irony and deep sincerity. Where the narrative lacks in drama, director Alex Ross Perry creates new depth through his intensely committed bits, resulting in a wildly entertaining experience for Pavement fans old and new.

Pavements releases in select theaters on May 2, with a wide release on June 6. Screening dates and locations can be found here. Check out the trailer below: