THE BEACH BOYS -- Doc About One of the Greatest Bands of All Time Is Fun, Fun, Fun

Review by Sean Boelman

Thom Zimny is a prolific documentarian in the music space, having long collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, and Frank Marshall is a Hollywood legend. Their music documentary, The Beach Boys, is pretty much what one would expect of a biography backed by a major studio and directed by A-list talent: a bit fluffy but thoroughly well-made and wonderfully charming. 

The documentary tells the tumultuous story of the rise to success of the Beach Boys, the legendary band that started making catchy surf music but would later come to be one of the most influential in all of pop music. Although it would have been nice to see something a bit more probing, as opposed to a general survey of their career, there are a few personal tidbits from some of the band’s members that are enjoyable “fun facts.”

The Beach Boys’ story is fascinating, and there are several directions that this film could have been taken. The filmmakers decide to give us a bit of all of them. We get a techy behind-the-scenes look into the studio, a glimpse into the family drama, and a cautionary tale about the cost of fame. It’s a lot to stuff into a sub-two-hour runtime, and because of this, the movie doesn’t feel particularly revealing.

Directors Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny have infused the documentary with an undeniable energy, largely thanks to the soundtrack. From the band’s most well-known hits to some lesser-known gems, the music brings a vibrant energy to the film. The kinetic editing style, which showcases the archive materials in a dynamic way, also helps the movie stay consistently engaging.

This is the type of documentary that bends over backward to show its admiration for the subject. While it’s unnecessary for the movie to prove why the Beach Boys are and were relevant, most viewers will have the same level of nostalgia for the band’s heyday. It’s made for fans first and foremost and will succeed in pleasing that audience.

The interviews with the surviving members of the Beach Boys are a definite highlight of the documentary. Al Jardine and Mike Love, along with the rotating crew of other musicians, provide a wealth of content. While Brian Wilson's condition limits his interview time, the film includes some new interviews, along with a few from the archives, to fill in the gaps.

The filmmakers also interview other artists, causing the film to fall victim to the modern assumption that for audiences to take past musicians seriously, they have to hear from today’s biggest stars about how great the subjects’ contributions to the music industry were. Although people like Janelle Monáe and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder are more than knowledgeable enough to speak on the subject, their inclusion feels like an attempt to pander to younger audiences.

While The Beach Boys may not reinvent the music documentary genre like its subjects did the music industry in the 1960s, it’s still a pleasant enough watch for fans of the iconic and groundbreaking group. If you’re just looking for some good vibrations courtesy of one of the most innovative musical forces of all time, this is sure to be fun (fun, fun).

The Beach Boys is now streaming on Disney+.

Rating: 4/5