By Jack Shanley
For this month I decided to review the new ‘Pulp’ documentary. Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore? Directed by Garth Jennings and narrated by the endlessly charming Jarvis Cocker, this film captures the legendary Britpop band on their triumphant 2025 tour while taking a wonderfully nostalgic look back at their long, strange journey.
At roughly 100 minutes, it strikes the perfect balance between a fiery concert film and a heartfelt history lesson. Rather than being a dry band bio, Cocker describes the movie as a bit like a jumble sale—and that’s what makes it so fun to watch.
The absolute highlight of the documentary is its goldmine of archive footage. Jennings dives deep into the history of ‘Pulp’ spanning over four decades, pulling back the curtain on Pulp long before they were famous. We get to see brilliant personal photos, quirky old TV appearances, and even a teenage Jarvis’s school exercise book where he mapped out his dream band’s strict dress code. There is even a peak at a wooden Dalek his grandfather built for him to climb inside. It’s a endearing, hilarious window into a group of eccentric Sheffield outsiders who slowly clawed their way to pop royalty.
Equally thrilling is the concert footage, recorded during their massive shows at London’s O2 Arena. Jarvis Cocker remains one of the greatest frontmen in rock history. Even with his signature “Vegas-meets-Sheffield” dance moves looking slightly creakier these days, his showmanship is completely magnetic. Backed by a full string section and a massive neon backdrop, the live performances feel enormous. Seeing tens of thousands of fans from different generations screaming along to classics like “Disco 2000” and “Babies” will give you instant goosebumps.
What makes the film really shine, though, is its emotional heart. Between the high-energy arena hits, there are deeply tender moments—including a stripped-back performance honoring the late bassist, Steve Mackey.
Easy to follow, visual, and wildly entertaining, Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore? isn’t just for die-hard fans. It’s a joyful, witty celebration of growing older without ever losing your spark. Whether you want to relive the 90s or just watch a brilliant performer at the top of his game, this is a must-watch.
In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four stars. You can watch it on Mubi today. Director: Gareth Jennings – Rating: 12A – Genre: Music/Documentary – Run Time: 1h 30m- Language: English. For more film content, please follow @screen_.addicts on Instagram.