With a heartfelt tribute to one of the most beloved and iconic pop music bands in history, co-directors Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny‘s documentary “The Beach Boys” offers a nostalgic trip through the musicians’ legendary journey, although it does not present much in the way of new information. Those looking for a ton of insight aren’t going to find it here, but fans wanting to relive the glory days of California surfer music while relishing the chance to sing along to the hits they know and love will get a lot of enjoyment from the soundtrack alone.
The film captures the essence of the surfer sound and image that the Beach Boys popularized in the early 1960s, despite the fact that the band members themselves didn’t actually ride the waves. The documentary chronicles the formation of the band, beginning with leader Brian Wilson’s high school days and his decision to create a group with his brothers, cousin, and best friend Al Jardine. The film includes the resulting tumultuous trajectory that took the Beach Boys to new heights both professionally and creatively.
The film covers the all-to-familiar beats of most music documentaries, from the band’s humble beginnings, recording their own demo, facing multiple rejections from record companies, and an eventual big break that propelled them to stardom. It follows the typical formula, featuring a wealth of archival footage and straightforward interviews with band members, producers, family, and friends.
Touching on the drama (but casually glossing over some of the more serious and dark moments in the history of the Beach Boys), the film explores the ups and downs of their career, including Brian’s innate ability to create songs that no only resonated with listeners through his clever lyrics and catchy melodies, but added a depth and complexity that changed the face of the music industry forever.
As expected, a significant portion of the film is dedicated to Brian Wilson (while including only brief references to the darker aspects of his struggles with mental health, drug abuse, and loneliness), whose creative genius and obsession with perfection led to the creation of some of the best harmonies ever recorded. Marshall and Zimny dedicate a good chunk of their documentary to celebrating the “Pet Sounds” album, which introduced the band’s notable change in sound and is often considered to be the very best of the Beach Boys. They also explore the musical rivalry with the Beatles, a healthy competition that pushed both bands to new heights.
In order to end the film on a positive note, Marshall and Zimny stop their story in the late 1980s although there’s plenty more to tell. This isn’t exactly a puff piece, but “The Beach Boys” is more of a celebration rather than an examination of the band that personified the All-American, California dream, and it’s well done for what it is.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 