A review of the recently released animated film, Surf's Up, starring Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges and Jon Heder.
Penguins seem to be as popular as Will Farrell these days. Since March of the Penguins stole our hearts in 2005, those cute little flightless underdogs have become a staple in Hollywood – and with good reason. They’re adorable, they glide on their bellies and they walk really funny. I’m laughing already.
But enough is enough, already. Like Will Farrell, penguins can get boring fast.
Mockumentary Nice New Approach
Thankfully, directors Ash Brannon and Chris Buck had the sense to do something different with Surf’s Up. By using the mockumentary format, the film provides a breath of fresh air and carries the film along with much more flair than a straightforward movie would have.
The directors pulled this stunt off by not just relying on running jokes like cameramen injured in the line of fire and clumsy mic boom operators getting in the way, though those jokes are definitely there. What makes this gag work are the off-camera interviews and those uncomfortable moments of recognition between subject and camera – both provide a nice human touch to an otherwise bizarre story about surfing penguins. Parents will appreciate this approach, but whether or not the kids will even understand this new form of storytelling is uncertain.
The Story Goes Like This...
The mockumentary follows a rising teenage talent in the surfing world, one Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf of Disturbia), as he leaves home to compete in the 10th annual Big Z Memorial Tournament. Z, who supposedly died in a surfing accident, is the sole reason Cody ever wanted to become a surfer in the first place; he sees surfing as his way out of his boring home of Shiverpool.
Through a not-so-surprising turn of events, Cody is not only reunited with his idol, but Big Z (Jeff Bridges) takes him under his wing and teaches him the most important lesson of all – that the thrill and joy of surfing is the only real reward. Not the most inspiring lesson, but what else can you really do with surfing penguins?
New Friends
Along the way, Cody makes some friends. Jon Heder voices Chicken Joe – a CGI chicken version of Jeff Spicoli who is so laid back he doesn’t even realize his new friends are a band of tribal penguins trying to cook him. Every scene featuring Joe is a guaranteed laugh.
Then there’s Lani Aliikai, the movie sweetheart, voiced by Zooey Deschanel. Not really funny, but necessary.
Other delights include James Woods as the shameless, thankless, money-hungry, Don-King look-alike event promoter, Reggie Belafonte and his extremely unappreciated talent scout, Mikey Abromowitz (Mario Cantone of Sex and the City fame.)
But the highlight of this movie will not be found anywhere on the cast closing credits. The real stars of this film are the guys and girls who brought the waves to life. The CGI gives a very realistic texture to the water, both above and under the surface. As pain-staking as it must have been to make those beautiful water tunnels, it was well worth it. The views are spectacular.
Despite its predictability, Surf’s Up delivers enough comic gems and successfully manages to turn something old into something new and enjoyable. That’s not to say Will Farrell should go out and buy a beaked tuxedo. No more penguins, please.
