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A tragicomic air clings to bands who light up the sky like a firework and fade away. The Norwegian subjects of a-ha: The Movie are best known for their 1985 hit Take on Me, but, despite successful shows, seem mired in creative purgatory. Thomas Robsahm and Aslaug Holms documentary trawls the bands career with musings from its three members Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen and the Ken Dollesque lead singer Morten Harket and key associates.

Bouncing around synth-pop-happy London in the early 1980s, the driven trio of accomplished musicians landed a contract with Warner Brothers. Take on Me, with its infectious arpeggios and liberating high notes, made them stars, boosted by a delightful part-animated music video from Steven Barron (who also made videos for Billie Jean and Money for Nothing).

Then what? The documentary reviews the bands chronology like a slavish yet intermittently lucid Wikipedia entry. We dont learn how a-ha continued to get the privilege of releasing albums (including denim and shiny-shirt phases at either end of the 1990s) or what kept thousands of fans coming back for more. But we do witness a hundred muted shades of glum and listless: Furuholmen still seems sad about abandoning guitar for keyboards, decades ago, while Harket talks about needing his space. Waaktaar-Savoys attitude can be summed up by a sticker behind him in one shot: No Stupid People.

Theres a slight wonky interest in seeing the grind of recording sessions and fan service. But the film feels promotional enough that it wont lean into the potential humor of their situation.

a-ha: The MovieNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes. In theaters.

Read more:
a-ha: The Movie Review: The Creative Purgatory of the Take on Me Trio - The New York Times