Surf’s Up is an animated feature that goes behind the scenes of the high-octane world of competitive penguin surfing. The film profiles Cody Maverick, an up-and-coming surfer as he enters his first pro competition. Inspired by his hero, a legendary wave rider named Big Z, Cody leaves his family and his town of Shiverpool, Antarctica to travel to Pen Gu Island for the Big Z Memorial Surf Off. Cody believes that winning will bring him the admiration and respect he desires. But when he unexpectedly comes face to face with a washed up old surfer named The Geek, Cody begins to understand that the greatest champion isn’t always the one who comes in firstSurf’s Up is a computer-animated sports mockumentary about penguin surfing contests, which makes it stand out from the crowd of penguin movies. The story unfolds as it would on ESPN, with interviews (with penguins) overlapping footage of (penguin) surfing action, gradually unveiling the tale of Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LaBeouf, Holes), a young penguin from Antarctica with dreams of winning a surfing competition–a competition named after his idol, the missing Big Z (Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski). But when he joins the competition, Cody finds his zeal for winning may not be enough to defeat the cruel reigning champ, Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader, Grim & Evil). The story of Surf’s Up is typical stuff: Youngster learns to value friendship over material success. But the documentary style gives the movie a different rhythm from the usual feature-length cartoon; it stutters and skips around, dithers on side topics, and backtracks to catch up with supporting characters. Some viewers may be annoyed, but others–perhaps the more media-savvy–will find it a refreshing change of pace. (Kids who don’t watch much sports, however, may just find it confusing.) Surf’s Up also features the voices of James Woods (Hercules), Zooey Deschanel (Elf), and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). –Bret Fetzer
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Stills from Surf’s Up (click for larger image)
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April 7, 2010
#1
I don’t know what happened but the package never came. I don’t know if it was delivered when I wasn’t home, or what, but I never got it.
April 8, 2010
#2
For some mysterious reason, we were unable to get this blu-ray movie to play in our blu-ray machine. All other blu-ray movies purchased, played just fine. It’s strange…maybe a glitch at the manufacturing site.
April 8, 2010
#3
this movie is like a documentary and very hard for kids to follow – my kids are 8 and 10 – the movie is very boring and confusing
April 8, 2010
#4
I have to say that I am sick and tired of shows being geared towards children and toddlers, only to have adult humor embedded. There are two scenes in this movie that just made my blood boil. The one that remains in my mind the most is when two of the characters are arguing, and one calls the other a Pecker face. I don’t feel the need to discuss the connotation there. I would hate to believe that the writers think that we are so stupid that we wouldn’t get the hidden connotation there? Anyway, my children will not be watching it again. Cute story line on its own, and there was no need for the insert. I am waiting for the day now that my daughter if at daycare and gets in trouble for calling someone a pecker face. So how fair is that to her, when she saw it on a cartoon? Just wanted you to be warned. There are a couple of scenes like this that I actually picked up on. It’s a shame that I have to “screen” everything for them now.
A Concerened Parent
April 8, 2010
#5
This movie was not very impressive. It was simply a documentary formed as a cartoon if I wanted to see a real documentary I would have just rented one with actual humans! This movie is a cute concept but is for older kids, as they use concepts such as bad language and death throughout the film. This is not for little kids due to those two things. Plus my three year old and five year old, watched it for the first ten minutes and then where totally bored and left the room. So this movie did not hold there attention. I thought this was going to be a cute movie about penguins that they could enjoy because of the spectacular reviews this movie has recieved. Turns out it was just the opposite. Needless to say we where all very disappointed.