I received a free digital screening in exchange for this honest review.
DREAMIN’ WILD is a biographic and drama movie from River Road Entertainment and Zurich Avenue. Starring cast includes Casey Affleck, Noah Jupe, Zooey Deschanel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Chris Messina, Walton Goggins, and Beau Bridges. Rated PG, it’s a family-friendly movie aimed at older children and adults.
The movie begins with a quote on the screen, and it sets the tone for the movie:
“Dreams come true in time… occasionally in 4:4 time.” Anonymous.
Set in 2011, the movie continually flashes back to the 1970s to let the audience know the backstory. Donnie Emerson is gifted in music, learning multiple instruments by ear and writing his own music. His older brother Joe plays the drums and follows along. Growing up in rural Washington on a farm in the ‘70s, they haven’t been exposed to a lot of music until they get a new tractor with a radio. Assuring his father that he’s serious about music and can keep up with the farm work, they build a rustic music studio on their property.
Present day 2011, Donnie owns a small recording studio with his wife and they have a band, doing gigs wherever they can while parenting their children. Out of the blue, he gets a call from his brother and returns to the farm, because someone has discovered their long-lost album recorded in their practice studio years ago.
Skeptical, Donnie returns to meet with Matt from Light in the Attic who wants to re-press and rerelease the Dreamin’ Wild album to a new audience who loves their unique sound. With nothing to lose, and encouragement from the family, he agrees.
Amazingly, the new album generates a royalty check, the press wants interviews, and a gig is scheduled at the Showbox in Seattle—a dream venue of Donnie and his wife Nancy.
The pressure of performing the old body of work, when he would prefer new music, and memories of the past seem to haunt Donnie. Donnie has always been the visionary and their parents, especially their father, supported their music. The idea of a comeback without releasing new music seemed impossible to sustain.
Thirty years earlier, the original album was self-produced in their barebones studio, the cover art had them wearing the jumpsuits prevalent in the ‘70s, and they thought it was their big break. Slow sales and not a lot of gigs meant that things had to be reconsidered. Donnie left for L.A. on a promise and a dream of a solo musical career with Joe’s insistence. But times were hard, their parents already had a basement full of unsold albums, and the risk was great. But ever-believing, his father mortgaged the farm to give him more money to survive.
The weight of the guilt of costing his parents the majority of their farm for the music career which never surfaced has hounded Donnie most of his adult life. Finally, he talks to his dad, apologizing for the loss and perceived disappointment of his parents. His father assures him he never stopped believing in him. His father had no regrets and was proud of Donnie and his music. For the first time, Donnie is able to release the guilt and the emotional toll it has held on his life.
Additional apologies to his brother led to a special moment and an agreement to one last show—just the two of them. Donnie and Joe. The Emerson Brothers.
The movie touches on family, music, broken dreams, hard work, forgiveness, faith, and love. The insight into Donnie’s writing process and self-taught gift of music is amazing, and the family dynamics are ever-present. The enduring support and unconditional love of his parents, even in the face of defeat, is reminiscent of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The chance comeback from the long-lost album was a surprise in their lives, but it led to healing and a new perspective. The quotes from the elder Mr. Emerson were full of wisdom and a foundation of his faith.
The final scene of the real Emersons, Donnie, Nancy, and Joe, singing and playing “When a Dream is Beautiful” was the perfect ending to the heartfelt DREAMIN’ WILD movie.
DREAMIN’ WILD will touch your heartstrings and the music will take you back to a simpler time of youth. It’s a masterclass in the redeeming value of unconditional love and forgiveness combined with a second chance of the music of Donnie and Joe, the Emerson Brothers.
Dreamin’ Wild opens in theaters on August 4, 2023.
Dreamin’ Wild Official Trailer
Dreamin’ Wild Giveaway
We’re excited to bring an amazing giveaway to our readers! One winner will receive the Donnie & Joe Emerson Dreamin’ Wild LP (Retail Value $27). Fill out the form below for your chance to win!
Open to U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous United States.
The story and music sound interesting. Would be nice to see the movie and hear the music.
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