Even though audiences have had their fill of penguin movies in the past few years – Happy Feet (2006) and March of the Penguins (2005) – Surf’s Up is still a great one to watch. It’s more than just a story about penguins, it genuinely has an inspirational message for kids and adults alike. You learn that friends and having fun are more important than winning.
Young penguin surfing prodigy Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf of Transformers [2007]) leaves his Antarctic home of Shiverpool to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf Off on the tropical island of Pen Gu. The story is shot in a creative documentary style almost like reality TV. Before Cody leaves his home, the viewers catch a glimpse of how his family views him. His old brother Glen constantly belittles him, and his mother doubts her youngest son’s abilities.
When Cody leaves home, he befriends other surfers Chicken Joe (Jon Heder of Napoleon Dynamite [2004]) and Lani Aliikai (Zooey Deschanel), a female penguin lifeguard that Cody has an attraction to. Before the Big Z competition even starts, Cody is discouraged from competing when faced with self-absorbed Tank Evans, first-place champion nine years running. “What’s winning without a few losers?” is just a few of the things Tank believes in. He challenges Cody in the water and crushes his hopes in front of all the spectators on the beach.
Luckily, Lani introduces him to her Uncle Geek, an old local surfer bum. Through him, Cody learns to appreciate the art and fun of surfing. He realizes that he was so focused on winning the Big Z Surf Off that he forgot to have fun. There’s a beautiful scene in the end when Cody glides through a wave’s tunnel and the sparkle of blues and greens are captured terrifically. Geek says that riding through a tunnel is one of the best feelings he ever had, and this movie makes you want to feel that too.
Surf’s Up is packed with inventive extras. On the same note of this film being shot in a documentary style, there are three toddler penguins who are interviewed several times. Their comments and personalities are winning and memorable. And when Cody describes his idol Big Z, the flashback scenes are presented like grainy television clips. The picture is intentionally made to look “vintage” as if they were shot in the 1970’s.
My commendation is also given to the voice acting. Shia LeBeouf was a surprisingly perfect choice for the voice of Cody. Instead of casting a typical “surfer dude” voice, the directors opted for a voice with more depth and humanity. And even Jeff Bridges was a great choice for Geek, bringing out a humorous but still warm fatherly tone.
Kristin’s Grade: B+
Directors: Ash Brannon, Chris Buck
Screenwriters: Lisa Addario, Christian Darren, Don Rhymer, Joe Syracuse
Genre: Animation / Comedy / Family
Running Time: 85 minutes
Rated: PG (for mild language and some rude humor)
