Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

Since Dinosaur Jr. was always a band for alt-rock connoisseurs, perhaps it’s fitting that this movie about them is equal parts heartfelt and ungainly.

The band is a noteworthy one. But this treatment feels skimpy.

Amid such intense ups and downs, what makes Freakscene so engaging is its decision to put Dinosaur Jr's music front and centre, with numerous audio and live performance excerpts.

The faded videos of them playing on Letterman and hanging with Matt Dillon — who directed the video for their 1992 single “Get Me” — make up for the film’s insular and grainy approach.

Will likely appeal to both Dinosaur Jr. diehards and those with little knowledge of the band.

Plays more like a slapdash home movie with musical interludes to fill in the gaps but for fans of this groundbreaking band, there are still pleasures to be had throughout particularly when Mascis and Barlow do speak their minds.

Freakscene shows a band who have come and gone but have shown that even though making music isn’t fun, it’s the only thing that matters.

Tirelessly reverential, this middling rock doc fails to adequately explain the band’s legacy or status.

Philipp Virus’ rock doc is kind of a sloppy, disjointed mess, oddly more in tune with the shambolic energy of the band’s pre-major label years than the well-oiled éminence grise of indie rock they are today.

The constant focus on Dinosaur Jr.'s music comes at the expense of illuminating the men behind the music.