The new Disney documentary, *The Beach Boys*, looks at the storied history of the iconic band. It gives an all-inclusive look at how they rose from surf rock pioneers to global superstars. At the same time, however, it also unwittingly reveals some quite major holes and limitations within its attempt to document their full story.
The Beach Boys were formed in 1961 by brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Their innovative sound has made them some of the most influential music artists of all time. They helped to create a niche in rock ‘n’ roll history with songs such as “Surfin’ Safari” and “Good Vibrations,” while albums like *Pet Sounds* are claimed to be milestones for the formation of modern pop and rock music. It does well to show these achievements by portraying the meteoric rise and lasting influence of the band.
Despite this overall exciting storyline and colorful archival footage, the documentary fails to address certain very significant aspects of The Beach Boys’ history. Among them are the complex personal issues and internal strife that dogged the band. Brian Wilson’s battles with mental illness, which he has spoken openly about, ranged from schizophrenia to substance abuse. These affected not only his life but also the sound, dynamics, and general artistic expression of the band; therefore, looking deeper into this aspect will give a fuller picture of their journey.
The documentary also tends to sugarcoat how complex the relationships and conflicts among the band members were. Central to the story is the tension between Brian Wilson and his bandmates and differences over the musical direction, along with various other personal issues. Tense moments and feelings of disagreement that characterized their career and public image are not elaborated on. Yet little regard for internal discord in most cases is likely to sanitize their history by overlooking human elements that contributed to their success and struggles.
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Another weakness of this documentary is its scanty handling of The Beach Boys’ post-peak years. Their latter career, including their several attempts to fit into the changing musical currents and the impact of several lineup changes within the band, was barely touched. This era defined very significantly their resilience and further influence on the scene. However, such scant coverage by the documentary means missing critical information on their evolution and further contributions to the music industry.
It is also possible that the overemphasis on the commercial success of the band and on their popular hits in this documentary might overshadow the broader cultural and artistic contribution of The Beach Boys. Here, one could have placed a stronger emphasis on their influence on the development of psychedelic and progressive rock, as well as their impact on further generations of musicians. The film could have paid greater attention to these aspects if it were to present a complete insight into their contribution to the shaping of modern music.
Although Disney’s *The Beach Boys* The documentary gives a fascinating rundown of the band’s path to success and emphasizes their major achievements, somehow it fails to nail down the convolutions that really make up their story. The personal struggles, group disagreements, and further development of their career are rather skimmed through—things that set limits on the filmic portrait of The Beach Boys. For a truly complete understanding of the impact and legacy of this band, a deeper examination of these aspects would be necessary.
