This DVD works on two levels- if you are a fan of the Beach Boys touring line up- ie you just want to hear the songs and watch some wrinkled puppets singing them, you'll enjoy this. Similarly, if you are an obsessive fan, you'll appreciate this for the more interesting aspects of the performance- ie the brief glimpses of Brian and Dennis...
After about 1969, for me, Dennis Wilson WAS the Beach Boys...Brian is here in body, and has one brief vocal solo- the beginning of Sloop John B, but for the rest of the show, I'd say his piano is pretty much inaudible. Mike, Carl, Bruce and Al...well, they turn in 'professional' performances...that is to say, those guys have pulled exactly the same moves a thousand times before this, and would do so a thousand times after this. In my opinion the only interesting things about this DVD are the spontaneous moments- Dennis tying his sweaty towel around Mikes leg, Dennis singing 'you are so beautiful' (painful for another reviewer- the TOTAL and UTTER highlight for me...makes me cry every time I hear it. Dennis was the REAL Beach Boy...he surfed, and you believe his singing is motivated by something in his soul, rather than something in his wallet.) There is a beautiful moment when Brian looks a little lost and Denny hugs him...it's moments like this that lift the DVD above being a total yawn-fest. Other great moments- Dennis jumping on the Piano and saying 'eat your heart out Elton John' before help me Rhonda...Brian being shaved and looking almost like he did in '67...
Look, if you want to see a 'pro' Beach Boys performance, that is here...not very interesting in my opinion...lazy money grabbing old sellouts is what they were at this point, and that doesn't make for an interesting show. However, there is plenty beyond that (DENNIS, in case you didn't get my point...)if you are interested and prepared to look for it.
buy it, it's good...
