SURF'S UP
This Is Spinal Surf!
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "Surf's Up"
By Omar P.L. Moore/June 8, 2007
Surfin' U.S.A. Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia
LaBeouf of the upcoming film "Transformers") catches the wave, in the animated
comedy adventure "Surf's Up", the best film entertainment of the summer so far.
The film opens in the U.S. and Canada today. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
"Surf's Up" is exactly the kind of animated feature film that "Shrek
The Third", as decent as it was, should have been. Fresh, original, cheeky
and adorable, "Surf's Up" is a "Spinal Tap"-like mockumentary about a surfing
penguin Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LeBeouf) who aspires for greater things in
life than fish inspection in the town of Shiverpool, Antarctica.
Fatherless, his big inspiration is Big Z (Jeff Bridges), a surfer penguin icon
whose disappearance and death while riding an enormous wave during a surfing
contest with Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader) several years hence has been greatly
exaggerated. Cody wants to surf, and he will do what he can to make it
happen -- and Shiverpool isn't big enough (or cold enough) to hold him back from
following his dream and aspiration.
Meanwhile, Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) whom we hilariously learn hasn't
narrowly escaped chicken-branding, is searching for Cody, who has escaped
Shiverpool for the warmer climes of Pen Gu Island, where the 10th Annual Big Z
Memorial Surf Off championship is due to take place. Joe always seems to
be in the right place at the wrong time, but things always end up working for
him -- with a little help from his chicken-loving friends.
Directors Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2) and Chris Buck (Tarzan) take an approach to
this film that makes it very easy to love. They don't take things too
seriously, even though the effort poured into this film is precise and very
thorough. Easy going, very funny, and highly inventive, "Surf's Up" is the
best celluloid entertainment to hit the big screen this summer. The
screenplay, on which four writers* worked, is lively, never sagging. There
isn't so much as a five-minute lull at any point during this gem, an animated
film that adults will probably appreciate more than the kids, although children
will be dragging their "Shrek"-ed-out parents to see it.
One of the great joys of "Surf's Up" is the engaging characters that parade
through it, each and everyone of whom is interesting. There's lifeguard
Lani (Zooey Deschanel) who is an object of Cody's affections, and a penguin who
claims to take her lifeguard job seriously. There's the self-aggrandizing
surfing promoter and opportunist Reggie Belafonte (James Woods) and the surfing
scout Mikey Abramowitz (Mario Cantone). Each actor plays off the other so
well. Animation more than any other filming requires that extra bit of
spontaneity, and all the actors add the right mix of enervation, comedy and
drama to make "Surf's Up" a riveting experience. Far from stale, the film
leaves you wanting more. The documentary-style and the old stock animation
film footage shown is impressive, adding a visual flair not often seen in
Hollywood animated features. "Surf's Up" will no doubt shrewdly capitalize
on the world's recent fascination with big screen penguins ("Happy Feet" and
"March Of The Penguins") but on its own this new release, which glides into
theaters in the U.S. and Canada today, has a lot going for itself.
"Surf's Up" is bright and cheery. The visuals are priceless and unlike
other animated films, it runs seamlessly, with its special effects
supplementing, not dominating or exhausting the story. Most impressive are
the animated sea waves and phenomenal underwater animation -- these are some of
the most priceless and amazing visions of the year. The waves are so
lifelike that it is hard to tell where the reality-like scenes end and the
animation begins. Special effects supervisor Rob Bredow and production
designer Paul Lasaine are to be lauded for their work, as well as the many
animators, scene artists and storyboard artists who collaborated on this
memorable film, which stays with you more than many live-action (or animated)
films do. With superb camerawork to boot, to experience "Surf's Up" is to
ride a big wave of big fun -- visually astounding, wondrously riveting fun.
So catch the wave and don't miss this visual treat -- "Surf's Up" is the
thrill ride of the summer.
"Surf's Up" is rated PG by the Motion Picture
Association of America for mild language and some rude humor. *The film is
written by Don Rhymer and Ash Brannon & Chris Buck & Christopher Jenkins, with
the story by Mr. Jenkins and Christian Darren. Mr. Jenkins produced the
film, while Lydia Bottegoni co-produced. Surfers Kelly Slater and Rob
Machado also voice parts in the film, as does ESPN cable television's X-Games
Host Sal Masekela, here as the host of SPEN (Sports Penguin Entertainment
Network.) The film's duration is one hour and 25 minutes.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2007. All Rights
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