Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story 2026

Overview

Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story is a feature documentary released on March 5, 2026, in Australia. Directed by Matthew Walker, the film celebrates Mental as Anything, an art-school band recognized for their irreverent humour, visual art, and clever pop songs that established them as one of Australia's most distinctive cultural forces. Following the 1979 release of Nips Are Getting Bigger, the band known as the Mentals ascended rapidly from inner-city Sydney pubs to national fame. They became masters at capturing Australian suburban life through warmth, wit, and playfulness, leaving behind an enduring cultural legacy. Although success arrived quickly, the group never treated it with reverence. Featuring appearances by Reg Mombassa, Peter O'Doherty, Martin Plaza, and David Twohill, the documentary explores how Mental as Anything navigated fame, longevity, and their unique place in music history with a funny, warm, and unexpectedly moving approach over a runtime of one hour and thirty-two minutes.