NOFX? No Problem? Your Problem! | SF DocFest 2026
They did it their way.
Dear Moviegoers,
Punk rocker "Fat Mike" of the band NOFX has got to be the most central figure of any music documentary there has ever been. 40 Years of F***in' Up, about the final tour and history of said band, should have a straight formula to follow, based on other films of the genre: talking head interviews, archival footage, present-day antics, etc. And sure, the movie does go with that flow for the most part. The other part, however, is Fat Mike himself, attitude and personality all the way.
For him, there wouldn't be any other way. For this film, there couldn't be either.
Mike formed the band, being its charismatic and long-talking member for its existence, taking things with a DIY (do it yourself) approach and a burning need to be free with expression. I suppose, in his case, DIY can be for pleasure AND business, as his methodology toward navigating the music industry proved very well for a band like his, from dives to stage-diving.
There's heavy cocaine use, there's snorting drugs off different surfaces, there's blood coming from both ends of the body, and interesting uses of rubber and leather that are spread (or sprinkled) throughout the film. Mike's film.
For the first half of 40 Years of F***in' Up, it's suggested that Mike will be an arrogant antagonist, or the cross that would break the band's back, with his open drug use and occasionally erratic behavior. The other bandmates, while they've clearly lived lives of partying themselves, are shown as balanced and mature in these moments. But folks, it's mostly smoke and mirrors, clever and cheeky. A facade of limited sorts.
If there's one point that's not in the film's favor, it's how much of it focuses on Mike's perspectives. If there's a point that's completely in the film's favor, it's in how it uses Mike's attitude to tell the band's story and to direct itself. The opening few minutes set up something dramatic, only to pull the rug out from under to reveal that this is going to be a documentary of not-so-serious approaches to some serious reality and growing up.
It's ok for Fat Mike to be an idol in his own movie because this is a movie about his own band. He and his bandmates love what they do and did, and through frustrations and fights, living and laughter - typical in any rockumentary - there is still an appreciation for where they are now and for what they've learned, and what they'll learn next.
It's radically close and personal, but only to the degrees that the band allows. And, frankly, they could stand to be a bit less open.
That just wouldn't be Mike. That wouldn't be NOFX. That wouldn't be punk.
Was 40 Years of F***in' Up an excuse to joke around through genre? If so, they did it right, blending real escapades with reel style. Fat Mike himself makes references to classic cinema like Annie Hall...while doing Vicodin. And booze. And looking haggard.
Truly, a central figure of any film of the genre there has never been. 3.5/5
40 Years of F***in' Up is coming to the 25th SF Documentary Festival. Click on the banner below for more information.
