Contrary to the headline displayed on this film’s poster, Disney’s The Beach Boys isn’t a definitive guide to the band. Instead, it plays like a “greatest hits” album that goes through their famous ups and downs. Their steady rise among American teens and leader Brian Wilson’s pop music innovations are covered, as are the more dour moments of their career, like the relentless abuse they got from their manager (the Wilsons’ father Murry) and the disagreements between Brian and his cousin and co-writer Mike Love. But for better or worse, the documentary doesn’t go into too much detail about these high-profile feuds, focusing instead on the joy and brilliance of their era-defining music, which tends to get buried beneath all the drama anyway. Because of this sunny approach, the film sometimes fails to match the band’s complexity. But there’s no denying that it's just as enjoyable to watch as it is to listen to The Beach Boys' music.
Synopsis
A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.
Storyline
Follows the ups and downs of The Beach Boys, the definitive California band that pioneered the deeply harmonious surf sound of the ‘60s, comprised of talented musicians who despite their sunny demeanor didn’t always get along.
TLDR
They might as well put color-coded lyrics in this documentary the way it doubles as a sing-along ( as a huge Beach Boys fan, I mean that as a compliment).
What stands out
Their creative back-and-forths with The Beatles were unexpectedly fun to watch. There was a time when the two bands were equals racing to the top; of course, The Beatles went on to leave them for good, but boy did The Beach Boys put up a fight. Also, I’m ashamed to admit I was one of the ignorant fans who assumed Pet Sounds was influenced by Sgt. Pepper's—I was pleasantly shocked to find it was actually the opposite.
