Do It Again (film)

Plot

Geoff Edgers is a reporter for the Boston Globe. Facing a mid-life crisis, he decides to embark on a quest to reunite his favorite band, The Kinks. Founded in 1964 by oft-feuding brothers Ray and Dave Davies, the group split in 1996 due to creative tension and poor record sales. Edgers travels around America, interviewing and gaining the support of several personalities, including Sting, Paul Weller, Peter Buck, Zooey Deschanel, Clive Davis, Warren Zanes, and Robyn Hitchcock.

Edgers eventually travels to London in an attempt to bring together The Kinks' original lineup: the Davies brothers, Pete Quaife, and Mick Avory. Edgers interviews Avory and visits the annual Kinks fan club convention at the Boston Arms pub, where he talks to former drummer Bob Henrit. Ray Davies makes a surprise visit at the convention. He refuses to give an interview to Edgers and requests that the crew not film his performance with The Kast Off Kinks.

Later, Edgers is informed that Dave Davies is willing to grant an interview. They meet at an undisclosed location outside London and discuss Dave's relationship with his brother. Dave comments that "I think Ray was probably happy ... for a whole three years in his life, and that was from the age of zero to three, when I wasn't there, and I think I kind of rained on his parade a bit ... I think sadly, it never went away." At the end of the conversation, Edgers and Davies play the song "Strangers" together. He then returns home to Boston. As the credits roll, Edgers and a classroom of children sing Weird Al Yankovic's parody of The Kinks' 1970 hit "Lola".

Production

"Do It Again" was filmed over a period of two years, largely in Boston but with shoots also in London, New York and Los Angeles. The film was edited by Emerson graduate Brad Allen Wilde, one of Patton-Spruill's former students, and more than a dozen other Emerson students were involved in its production. During filming, Edgers requested interviews with more than 60 musicians and was rejected by over 50, including Aimee Mann, Jack White, Eddie Van Halen, and the band Green Day. Edgers and Patton-Spruill consulted with writer Tom Perrotta, Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock, and Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz.

Festivals

Do It Again premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival on January 28, 2010. Other notable screening locations included Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Independent Film Festival of Boston, Nashville Film Festival, Taipei Film Festival, Indianapolis International Film Festival, and Pusan International Film Festival.

Television

In December 2010 it was announced that a 57-minute cut of Do It Again had been accepted for US television broadcast on public television. Do It Again was picked up by stations in Boston, Austin, Hawaii, Connecticut, Louisiana, Oregon, Wichita and Atlanta. The broadcast debut is currently set for 9:00 p.m. on September 15, 2011 on WGBH Boston.

Reception

Do It Again received generally positive reviews. Variety called the film a "crowdpleaser that will connect even with auds unfamiliar with the Kinks' legacy", and The Huffington Post gave it a positive review, summarizing it as "a hilarious romp and clever distraction from a crumbling America and the middle class barbecue. In fact, this film is more. Like a sneaky octopus, it wraps you up, and when squeezing the laughter out of you, out flies a picture of your life." Shaula Clark of the Boston Phoenix gave Do It Again a negative review, but noted that "marvelous things occasionally happen — his off-the-cuff jam session with Sting is electrifying. And whether Edgers delights or horrifies you, you’ll likely spend the film muttering, 'I can’t believe he’s doing this.'" Sean O'Connell of Hollywoodnews.com noted that the film, "as all good docs do, draws us into Edgers' personal mission, and we suffer as this journalist deals with salary cuts at his unstable job and wince as Ray (and his publicity associates) plays hard-to-get with Edgers' dream. ... It's a rollicking trip through music history, and a worthy personal journey too many of us will be able to relate to."