Movie Review: Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys

Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys a.k.a Heroes and Villains 

Leonard Hill Films, USA, 1991. 

Based on the book "Heroes and Villains" by Steven Gaines. 

The movie begins when drunken Dennis Wilson (Bruce Greenwood) tries to dive for his items and drowns. Decades before he was a surfer dude. His geeky brother Brian (Greg Kean) is hopeless with girls and plays organ with his dad Murry (Arlen Dean Snyder) and brother Carl (Bo Foxworth). Dennis says that Brian should play Rock 'n'Roll. They start the band Beach Boys with Mike Love (Casey Sander) and Al Jardine (Andrew Myler). Murry does not like their music but recognizes the potential. He arranges a recording contract. 

Brian

Dennis Wilson

Murry Wilson

"Surfin" becomes an instant hit but for the live gigs they need more practice. Murry is very demanding on Brian. Dennis and Murry constantly argue and there are artistic differences. Brian is stressed and little brother Dennis does best he can to support him. Brian starts smoking weed and starts to get panic attacks. He stops touring and starts to write songs. 

Beach Boys!

Psychedelic era

The hippie-era changes their style considerably. Dennis also meets Charles Manson (Michael Reid MacKay) who steals money from him. Years go by, hairs and beards grow. Sex, drugs & Rock'n'Roll take their toll and several marriages are ruined. Despite the hardships the band survives.

Charles Manson

Dennis and Brian

Good band biography made for TV. The 1960s atmosphere is nice, with the innocence of early 60s and later the wild and darker years. The movie depicts mainly the stories of Dennis and Brian with less attention to he other band members. The latter half is more focused on the problems of the band than their music. Murry is depicted as a failed musician who vents his frustration on Brian and Dennis. As the movie spans several decades, many things are fast forwarded. It is hard to keep track of who is married to whom. As this is an unauthorized bio picture, there is no music performed by real the Beach Boys. However the imitations are quite good. 

Rating: Good 

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Greg Kean, Arlen Dean Snyder, Casey Sander, Bo Foxworth, Linda Dona, Laura Leigh Hughes, Wendy Foxworth, Dorothy Dells, Andrew Myler, William Jones, Billy Vera, Robert Lee, Maya Lebenzon, Kelly Bratten, Diane Gaidry, Guy Christopher, Lance Rosen, Don Craig, John Walter Davis, Aaron Lustig, Richard Morof, Michael Strasser, Elizabeth Giordano, Jason Keene, Jay Levy, Ed Levey, Michael Reid MacKay, Colleen Morris, Paul Anthony Weber 

Director: Michael Switzer