The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009)

89% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(4,014 ratings)

Screenwriting cousins Jeff and Gregg Sherman team up to craft this documentary exploring the darker side of the relationship shared between their famous fathers, Robert and Richard. Back in the 1960s, Robert and Richard Sherman rose to fame penning upbeat songs for such classic children's films… More Screenwriting cousins Jeff and Gregg Sherman team up to craft this documentary exploring the darker side of the relationship shared between their famous fathers, Robert and Richard. Back in the 1960s, Robert and Richard Sherman rose to fame penning upbeat songs for such classic children's films as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But the pair's catchy, optimistic ditties masked a contentious brotherly bond -- which ultimately grew so sour that their sons Jeff and Gregg weren't aware of one another despite the fact that they only lived a few blocks apart. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Directed By: Gregory V. Sherman, Jeffrey C. Sherman
Genres: Documentary, Television, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: May 22, 2009 Wide
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dan Kois, Washington Post
The film holds their Disney songs in such high esteem, and discusses them with such little context, that The Boys sometimes feels as though it is set in Disneyland, not the real world.
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
It's a solid chapter in the history of American popular song, an examination of Walt Disney's final career triumphs, a glimpse at both the daily grind and the eureka moments of songwriting, and a story of family dynamics all rolled into one.
Greg Quill, Toronto Star
The story of the men who wrote them in the golden age of Walt Disney Studios' movie musicals, brothers Robert and Richard Sherman, is one of the most fascinating chronicles of creative partnership never told.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
A touching and illuminating documentary about the songwriting duo.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
An excellent film -- entertaining and informative and sometimes stunning in its display of the personal demons shared by these two geniuses.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
An absorbing study in creative tension.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an affable, sporadically intriguing (yet somewhat underwhelming) piece of work.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
A fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary that charts not only a story of tremendous success but sibling rivalry as well.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Well-paced and full of anecdotal information, clips from the brothers' movies, and interviews with people who worked with them . . . . It's rich with history, and not just personal history.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
The documentary covers 80 years of their lives, from a happy childhood right through to the present day, covering their personal and professional lives and offering a glimpse of their particular creative process.
Steve Simels, Boxoffice Magazine
Film buffs and cineastes will find the doc's inside-show biz stories a real treat.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
A lively, engrossing, fascinating and well-edited documentary. It finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them intellectually as well as emotionally.
Susan Granger, SSG Syndicate
Evocative and intriguing, spiced by lush, radiant movie clips illustrating the Sherman brothers' glorious legacy of music.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff T

Although it doesn't quite uncover the dark underbelly of the sunniest songwrites in film history, this swell documentary about the Sherman brothers is full of great I-can't-believe-they-wrote-THAT-too moments and a fairly compelling narrative of the strange, strained… More
Although it doesn't quite uncover the dark underbelly of the sunniest songwrites in film history, this swell documentary about the Sherman brothers is full of great I-can't-believe-they-wrote-THAT-too moments and a fairly compelling narrative of the strange, strained relationship the two brothers had (have) behind the surface of Disney smiles. Chim-Chim-Cher-Whee!
Jason V

Historical in every possible way, it's hard to remember The Boys is supposed to focus on the men behind the music and not necessarily the music itself. Not because they are uninvolving people, but because the music is beyond legendary. The film falters only in its running time,… More
Historical in every possible way, it's hard to remember The Boys is supposed to focus on the men behind the music and not necessarily the music itself. Not because they are uninvolving people, but because the music is beyond legendary. The film falters only in its running time, wanting to cover as much ground as possible instead of worrying about the playability of the product. Not exhaustive, but exhausting. Not flattering, but almost ego stroking. Sure, these two men are legends in some circles, but their personal relationship? It seems like something for the family to work out behind closed doors. Major points for the doc, though, for not ending in the way one would expect. In other words, not like a typical Disney movie.
John B

A true work of love by two sons whose fathers no longer communicate. Those fathers are the Sherman brothers, authors of most of the charming and sickly sweet Disney movies of the sixties. A grand creativity fueled by the feuding of siblings. It is a story laid out in a very nice… More
A true work of love by two sons whose fathers no longer communicate. Those fathers are the Sherman brothers, authors of most of the charming and sickly sweet Disney movies of the sixties. A grand creativity fueled by the feuding of siblings. It is a story laid out in a very nice package.

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The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff T

Jason V

John B

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