Pavements ★★★★

Released: 11^th July 2025

Director: Alex Ross Perry

Starring: Pavement, Rebecca Clay Cole, Gary Young, Joe Keery, Nat Wolff, Fred Hechinger

Music biopics are coming thick and fast at present, covering bands and artists of all shapes and sizes, with the likes of Elton John, Bob Dylan and soon Bruce Springsteen (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere) having their life stories told on screen. The latest take on an iconic band is Pavements which combines a spoof biopic and documentary of the 90s rock band Pavement. It is certainly a different approach to the subject matter, yet one that suits the band’s sound and underground fanbase and image.

The combination of the story of Pavement with the more Spinal Tap style spoofs works well, keeping the audience engaged and never sure what to expect next. The band play themselves while the spoof actors include Stranger Things star Joe Keery and Jason Schwartzman. Even those unfamiliar with Pavement will find plenty to enjoy here, which may well boost their profile and ignite new interest.

The unique structure really helps mark this apart from traditional biopics like Walk The Line or band documentaries that are coming thick and fast. It may well be a structure that other directors employ moving forwards. The structure means there is a lot going on and it can be at times hard to follow which element is in play, but it makes it all the more rewarding and will allow multiple watches to unpack its various details.

It is a celebration of Pavement’s distinct blend of alt-rock, whilst poking fun at the style of traditional documentaries and biopics such as Elvis. Above all else this is a fun, constantly engaging film that does something original with what can be a tired genre.

Pavements is a breath of fresh air that gives the alt rockers the film they deserve, examining their history and distinct sound while also sending up cliches surrounding music documentaries and biopics to make something fresh, that is also a testament to their legacy and will no doubt bring more awareness beyond their initial fanbase. Like the band it is covering, this may become something of a cult favourite in future.