Surf’s Up — an Uppity Movie Review

A perfect example of false advertising. The preview for Surf’s Up made me think, “This looks like another Happy Feet.”

But it looked even more family-oriented than Happy Feet . . . for families with two and four year olds. I can only imagine these families expecting a delightfully non-offensive cartoon with lots of colors and mildly amusing humor.

What they got instead was a “mock documentary” (more commonly known as a “mockumentary”).

Surf’s Up follows the story of a penguin that enters a surfing competition. Along the way, there are interviews with the penguin’s family, friends, and competitors, and even fans of the sport who say the strangest things. In true documentary style, the camera moves realistically, making every scene feel fresh and unplanned. Yet the computer animation is very polished!

Surf’s Up could easily be a live action movie, with real people on location in Hawaii or something, aimed at audiences aged 15 to 25 who happen to love surfing. The animation definitely reaches out to a larger audience. Quirky-looking characters. Vivid, awe-inspiring waves. That’s enough to get me hooked, and I’ve never surfed in my life!

What about the story? Its morals are similar to Pixar’s Cars. Winning isn’t everything, you know. But while Cars almost made me want to dab my eyes with a Kleenex, Surf’s Up left my manliness securely intact. The characters don’t dwell on their emotions. The high-seas action sweeps them away, helping them reach their potential without shedding a tear.

[End of the review? Not quite. There's one scene in Surf's Up that puzzled me, a scene that is unexpected . . . weird . . . gross . . . and it involves medicine and bodily fluids. Does it have any medical merit? Don't know. It certainly is an odd choice for a family movie. You have been forewarned!]

For another Family Friendly Movie:

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
Boy becomes father to a baby Loch Ness!