The Beach Boys, heralded for their intricate harmonies and embodiment of the Californian dream, are sadly not given justice in the recent Disney+ documentary about the band. The film, directed by Frank Marshall & Thom Zimny, unfortunately falls into the common trap of many music documentaries, treading the same surface-level narrative that their music has already told. The richness of their legacy, their creative conflicts, and the complexity of their music, all felt overlooked.
The documentary does offer some satisfaction in its mid-section, delving into the details of the recordings of “Pet Sounds” and “Smile”. Yet, it quickly rushes through the last four decades of the band's career. The reason behind the group's enduring popularity, their influence on modern alternative pop-rock bands, and the struggle they faced with their record label are overlooked, leaving a rather incomplete tale of their journey.
The documentary starts off in a typical fashion with an ‘origin story’. Depicting the integration of various influences into their unique sound, and the inherent conflicts between Brian Wilson’s desire to write and Mike Love’s urge to perform, it provides an interesting insight into how they became famous by recreating their sound live - something even The Beatles struggled with.
The complicated legacy of the Wilson family is acknowledged but not delved into. Murry Wilson’s abusive behaviour and the eventual selling of the catalogue out of sheer jealousy are barely touched upon, indicative of the documentary’s tendency to retreat from more challenging narratives.
The documentary seems to struggle with its target audience. It may please fans seeking nostalgic interviews and familiar tunes, but those looking for depth and exploration of the band’s complex history will likely feel underwhelmed. A documentary about a band as captivating as The Beach Boys should aspire to match the creative complexity and integrity of its subjects. This film unfortunately fails to meet this standard.
