The life of the legendary Beach Boys founder is almost too big a story to tell in one film – which is why this biopic uses two actors to play him Related: Love & Mercy review – a warm tribute to the extraordinary life of Brian Wilson Truly a Californian epic of sunshine and noir, Coppertone psychedelia and complete psychosis, the story of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys – a sun-kissed “Come to Sunny California” ad pasted over a bottomless abyss of paternal alcoholism and violence, massive drug abuse, deepening (then all-conquering) lunacy, and one impure, highly adulterated “genius” – was unlikely, in cinematic form, to satisfy everybody.