Surf's Up Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Hang six Summer 2007.
A Major Ocean Picture
The ocean just got cooler.
A True Story
Makin' Waves Summer 2007
In the coldest place on Earth, he's the hottest thing around.
Birds Fly...Penguins Soar!
A stylistically daring CGI feature, "Surf's Up" is based on the groundbreaking revelation that surfing was actually invented by penguins. In the film, a documentary crew will take audiences behind the scenes and onto the waves during the most competitive, heartbreaking and dangerous display of surfing known to man, the Penguin World Surfing Championship.
| Shia LaBeouf | Cody Maverick |
| Jeff Bridges | Zeke 'Big Z' Topanga, 'Geek' |
| Zooey Deschanel | Lani Aliikai |
| Jon Heder | Chicken Joe |
| James Woods | Reggie Belafonte |
| Diedrich Bader | Tank 'The Shredder' Evans |
| Mario Cantone | Mikey Abromowitz |
| Kelly Slater | Kelly |
| Rob Machado | Rob |
| Sal Masekela | SPEN Announcer |
| Chris Buck | Filmmaker |
| Brian Posehn | Glen Maverick |
| Dana Belben | Edna Maverick |
| Ash Brannon |
7.10 out of 10 (17221 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Boring..
posted on 27 Aug 2009I generally like the fun little kids shows... This time, I was bored almost from the get go. It was cool that it was done in a fake documentary style, but really, for me, that was about as good as it got. The story line is almost nonexistent, and I don't think I laughed once the whole time. I think the only people who this would be amusing for is the little kids, really little kids. Which is fine, but I think really, a movie like this should be enjoyable for the whole family, so they can watch it together, not have the parents fall asleep or leave to do something else. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone, unless they are looking for some sort of keeping-children-occupied-and-out-of-your-hair type movie.
Awesome!!!
posted on 27 Aug 2009My friend bought this movie some time ago.. I saw it on the desk for like few months and it never bother me.. I mean, I have no intention to watch it at all..Then, one day a friend of mine ask me to watch it with him.. And i said, "okay.." Well, i didn't expect much from the movie after all(at first)..Well, it turns out that it's such a great movie.. I watch it several times next, and I'd never get bored..The ocean, the wave, the flowing of it.. Looks so real.. As a multimedia student, I loved the animation and I envy them for making such a great animation..10 out of 10.. Absolutely Recommended..
One of the best American animated films in a while
posted on 19 Aug 2009Story of Cody Maverick a penguin from Antarctica who goes off to surf in a legendary surfing tournament.Before I start let me say this is not a perfect film. Keep that in mind while you read what I'm about to write, its not perfect, it has some problems...Easily the one of the most original animated features to come from an American studio in years. What were they thinking when they made this? This is the story of a surfing penguin told as if it were a sports documentary. It doesn't really behave as any animated film released by any American studio in decades. You have a movie that for the most part would be a good movie if it were done live action with people. You have a voice cast to die for, you have some of the best computer animation and a great score. It works on all levels-though I think big kids and adults are going to get it more than the wee ones. Its not endlessly referential, its just a nicely told film.What were they thinking? Frankly I don't care. This is a movie that shows what animation can do. Honestly its more original and more real than anything Pixar and Disney is doing simply because it doesn't follow any formula (okay yes it does follow a well worn plot line, but at the same time the cast and the story telling make it so much more than run of the mill). Its a movie thats a movie. Its not a cartoon, not in the typical American sense, its an animated film closer to what the Japanese are doing.I like the film a great deal. Its not perfect, as I aid its possibly too adult to find the kiddie audience, but its a damn good and amazingly original film. If I had to compare it to Happy Feet this would win. Happy feet seems too contrived compared to this, never mind Feet's weird turn at the end, this just sort of flows.Animation junkies should see this. Actually anyone wanting to see a good movie should too.
Not just another penguin movie...
posted on 17 Aug 2009First off, I got the chance to watch the Hollywood premiere here in Hawaii with the cast being there to watch it too. Due to the recent release of penguin movies, a lot of people are turned off by them. Please do not judge it so. I admit, at first I was turned off by it being a penguin movie and I couldn't think of anything new. Although this type of story has been told before (what story hasn't?), it's always interesting to see how it will be presented. And I liked it. The characters and events keep you in the movie. Yes, you're gonna have to deal with penguins and their habitats, but it won't be for long. And besides, this is no happy feet, which I liked also. This movie has an amazing cast with enjoyable characters. So be ready to laugh your butt off because I pretty much was. Great family fun movie, or just a movie for you. Now I regret watching it so early (May 20, 2007) because now I have to wait until June 8 to watch it again. = (
'Happy Feet' knock-off mildly entertaining
posted on 01 Aug 2009Let's say as an animated film, the newest Sony release "Surf's Up," is not terrible, but it is far from the most interesting or entertaining installment of the genre. Basically, a follow-up to last year's enormously popular "Happy Feet," this tells the tale of a young slacker surfer dude penguin, Cory Maverick (apparently, these animals now have last names, unlike their "Happy" counterparts), who slums in a fish sorting position at Shiverpool (get it?) in the Antartic.Instead of tap dancing, however, these flightless, web-footed little suckers "hang six" and ride frigid waves.Cory is voiced by Shai LeBeouf ("Holes," "The Greatest Game Ever Played"), and he's much put-upon by his mother, Edna (Dana Belden), and his older brother, Glen (Brian Posehn), because he spends his time surfing instead of helping gather food and aiding his colony's survival (animals are funny that way).When Cody was a young bird, the most famous surfing penguin of them all, Big Z (Jeff Daniels, taking a break from doing all of those "Come to Michigan" commercials), came to visit, and ever since that time, the little guy has been hooked on the activity.Years later, after Z's tragic death in Hawaii (yeah, I know, a penguin in Hawaii), Cody gets a chance to participate in the Big Z Memorial surf competition there. He faces the film's bad guy, an emperor penguin named Tank Evans (Dietrich Bader, a voice on the Disney cartoon, "Kim Possible").Cody also runs into a beautiful girl penguin (I'm only guessing she's beautiful, since, sadly, all penguins look alike to me), Lani (Zooey Deschanel, "Elf", as well as a pot-headed chicken, Joe (Jon Heder, one of the few really funny characters in this movie). Okay, there is also James Woods as the slimy promotions guy, Reggie Belafonte, complete with Don King do and appropriately smarmy demeanor.Of course, other complications occur before the big showdown against the big Kahuna, Tank, take place, as Cody learns a few things about what a slacker he is, I suppose. In the end, everyone gets what they deserve – whether they deserve it or not.The CGI animation here is very well done, with realistic scenes of beaches, coves, reefs, icebergs, jungles, eddies and other locations. The animal-centric characters are also nicely created.Unfortunately, the story does not live up to the rest of the production. It's also partly told in a mockumentary (think "This Is Spinal Tap" meets the "Real World") motif, with asides from the characters and simulated hand-held camera shots. There are also long stretches of time where nothing really happens, which is not a good thing for a children's picture.It seems that Z isn't really dead, only faking it because the pressure got to him. Now he spends his time loafing on the beach being taken care of by his niece, Lani. Soon, Cody and his mentor team up to take on their nemesis in the All-Penguin surfing championships (except, of course, that there's a chicken involved, as well, so the whole All-Penguin thing is kind of moot, I guess).Another problem is that the kids will probably not get the whole surfer attitude or MTV style, while the adults will quickly grow tired of the weak premise.
Exceptional
posted on 14 Jul 2009Amazing movie! It's a really nice movie to watch. I've never seen a animated movie whose scripts were all based on improvisation! It's awesome! The dialogs between Shia LaBeouf and Jeff Bridges are totally exceptional! They're both great actors and their voices match perfectly together. The images are so beautiful, the water is extraordinary and the way the waves move is so amazing! Critics consider Surf's Up as a Happy Feet's rival but I disagree: the stories are totally different and the way the image is treated is also different. I love Surf's Up soundtrack...it's basically calm musics, very chill out but mixed with some rock and punk rock. It's great! Love it! The characters are so funny and different, with all that hair like real surfers have, and the fact that the movie is almost based on interviews with a camera always pointing to the main character and the others...it's great! Perfect!!
Amazing Graphics!
posted on 14 Jul 2009Just caught this with my kids (10 and 8) and they loved it, they didn't get all the adult jokes ;) but there was a few laugh out loud moments for them, especially when bodily functions were involved! There where bits that reminded me of ICe Age 1, especially the speeding through the fire chutes/ice tunnels but overall I'll recommend this for a family film, pleasant movie for a rainy English summer, (no tap dancing penguins and not too many musically numbers).For me I was astounded by the graphics, the water and the jungle - I had to keep reminding myself that this was cgi but it looked more lifelike than real life, someone spent a lot of time on the design and it shows, very well done, if you are into any sort of design or computer graphics then this will blow you away, worth seeing it just for that!
This movie is not just another penguin movie
posted on 12 Jul 2009Let me start by telling that Shrek The Third was a disappointment. Watching Surf's Up I was not disappointed.Surf's Up is a film about Cody the penguin who can surf. Cody has the chance to go compete at a surfing contest at an island far from home. During his time spent there he makes new friends, a love interest, and learns more about himself.Surf's Up is made in documentary style (a.k.a mockumentary) and it suits the film well. No other animated feature that I can think up of has done this before. Surf's Up dared to be different. I really enjoyed the animation style of this film and how the penguins had different designs.Surf's Up is a creative film worth watching and hopefully around Oscar time may get recognition.
Perhaps there's a bit of Cody Maverick in all of us, no?
posted on 12 Jul 2009I wouldn't quite know if what I'm about to say qualifies exactly as "spoiler;" nevertheless, considering all the trials, tribulations and travails which Cody Maverick has to deal with throughout, I would probably be one of the first (if not the first) to wonder whether there may be something of a message in "Surf's Up" we never knew about early on.And a positive sort of message crossing into the inspirational, come to think of it.Especially considering that Cody is trying to escape what amounts to a dead-end life sorting fish in the wastelands of Shiverpool through surfing and its related experiences ... even if it means having to improvise his surfboards in sheets of ice with crude skegs.And, for all that he has to endure, manages to come out, if not quite winning, realising that (as Cody recalls Big Z "himself" telling him @ an early age) we should never give up, that we need to find out way ... 'cause that's what winners do.Not to mention actually getting his old hero back into surfing after ten years' hiding in what amounted to disgrace. (Feel free to debate this point, even if it just so happened that Geek/Big Z was inspired by a koa wood log just sitting there into getting Cody to build his own surfboard, several hilarious mishaps notwithstanding.)Come to think of it, could there be a likelihood of such serving as a motivational sort of film worth recommending to such facing difficult or otherwise trying situations, especially such beyond one's own direct control?
Surf-up? not a good surf.
posted on 12 Jul 2009Hi everyone. this movie did not meet our expectations why? the way the film was presented on Previews it look like it was going to be an extremely funny movie, however it was very disappointing. not only to the kids but the grown-ups got bored as well, kids where not having a good time like they did on other animated movies. i took the liberty to ask some of the other movie watchers what they think about this movie, they were very disappointed like we were. we are comparing this film with other titles like Happy Feet, Cars , Over the edge , so we were expecting a better funny film or same funny film like the movies we just mention above.Unfortunate for our taste, Surs-up needed it a lot more then just waves to become a funny film.so my suggestion is wait until it comes on DVD and spend your money on a better movie.
The Big 200 With A Good Movie
posted on 10 Jul 2009It is finally my 200th comment and Surf's Up is the film that I am going to comment on. I am telling you, this is a great movie. It is a very unique idea. A fake documentary about penguins who surf. That are not a lot of people that can create an idea like that. Well, the directors and the writers can, but still, not a lot. The cast of this movie is quite good. Shia Leboufe is in almost about every single movie these days. I also butchered his name. There is also Jon Heder, James Woods, and Jeff Bridges. There are also much more, but I am not going to name all of them.The plot of this film is quite simple, but I am not going to spoil anything for a change. Okay, I am going to make this as short as possible. It is basically about Cody Maverick, a penguin who wants to surf like his idol Big Z, but can Cody become the greatest penguin surfer of all time? You will have to see it to find out.Overall, this is an incredibly original film. I agree with most of the critics that say this is a great and fun film. It is, and you should enjoy this film and have fun with it. The special effects are amazing. The water looks almost real. The penguins, in my opinion, are much cuter in this movie than in Happy Feet. I also like Chicken Joe, the chicken who is apparently stoned. Anyway, this is a very good animated film that is very unique and original and should not be missed. Really, this is one of the best computer animated films that I have ever seen.8/10Recommended Films: Happy Feet
It was totally Fun and Comedy
posted on 06 Jul 2009The movie was totally fun and comedy. Cody Maverick was very funny and he was surfing superb and awesome. Tank Evans, Chicken Joe and Big Z was also superb and awesome in surfing and they were funny. Mikey was also funny. The last scene was awesome and cool. Tank Evans and Cody's voices was superb and I liked it. When, Big Z and Cody are making a surfboard, that scene was totally funny. The scenery and the ocean waves was superb and awesome and the animation is also cool and outstanding. When, Cody made his first surfboard, that scene was totally funny. When, Cody and Lani are leaf sliding, that scene was totally awesome and cool. When, Geek is treating Cody, that scene was also funny. The kids in the movie are so cute. I should really appreciate the creators of "Surf's Up".
Beautiful film, both in animation and execution
posted on 04 Jul 2009The movie Surf's Up really came out of nowhere for me. First off it went completely under the radar. It was absolutely overshadowed by Pixar's powerhouse "Ratatouille", and then you already had the penguin fad come and go with the Oscar winning "Happy Feet"(very undeserving sorry.) So I'm sitting here late at night and I notice I've just had this movie lying around. It's a quick hour and a half so I just decide to pop it in. I can easily say from where my expectations were I was blown away.First off the idea of the mockumentary is executed so perfectly throughout the entire film. It adds a strange sense of realism to the whole thing, which to me allowed for you to get to understand the characters better. It also provided for the funniest jokes of the movie. The movie clearly catered to children, but there were also many subtle jokes in there, making it a nice film for the family.The visuals though are what really do it for me. First off the lighting, the details of all the textures and thick forests made for a beautiful tropical location. You add on top the most important factor the water, which was rendered literally perfect. It was almost scary at times I swear they placed CGI over live action.This movie was not only beautiful from a technical aspect, but some of the "shots" so to speak were brilliant. The very modern soundtrack coupled with the shots of the penguins riding the "tube" was absolutely brilliant, it was enough to make an impact on me at least. Watching the sunset with the eerily realistic visuals so close, made for such an immersing experience. On top of all this the story was good fun. It was a very short movie, which is nice, but I also believe with a little extra time they could've fleshed out the story more. It was obviously incredibly far fetched(let's look past animals acting as humans here) if you've seen the movie you know what I mean. Again it's catering to children, but it's satisfying for all. Don't miss this one.
Surg and Surfing
posted on 30 Jun 2009The previews drew me in, and when a rainy weekend coincided with Surf's Up coming to the local theater I went. Here I am old enough to be a grandmother and I love animated films. And the animation makes the film. The water is surreal in how lifelike it is with all the variegation of color. The plot of little guy, big dreams, dream crash, dream re-found, and priorities set straight is definitely cliché. It's how it all gets there, is what we spend our $5.00 matinée for. The voice talent is perfect: Jeff Bridges as the laid back Z, Shia LaBeouf the young hero in the making, Jon Heder as a stoned chicken from Michigan, and Zooey Deschanel as the good-hearted lifeguard who keeps secrets well. They made the movie flow.As for the penchant of "children" movies using poop and pee for laugh lines--I ask why? It didn't add to the movie, and it certainly lowers it. It's as if they are afraid the movie won't hold up on its own without a bit of naughty and disgusting jokes. Hey, leave it alone and let the movie go. Urinating and flatulent penguins just aren't that funny. Lots of other funny stuff. Like I said to the floor sweeper when he asked me, "Was it any good?" It had it's moments.
Painful to sit through
posted on 26 Jun 2009What do you get when you blend boring characters, a overly-simple plot, and nice animation together? The answer is Surf's Up, an extreme disappointment of a movie that is not at all what it markets itself as. The trailer seemed to be targeting all ages (and genders, for that matter- a large penguin simulates sex with a surfboard!) by seeming to have a smart sense of humor and a "new" idea- surfing penguins. Now granted, movies starring penguins are nothing new or innovative, but that's not the problem here. There is far too much talking going on here, and most of it centers on useless "small talk" that isn't even relevant to the movie. The attempted jokes are a mess also, ranging from poop jokes to "the audience is dumb" jokes. Folks, there is nothing funny here.The movie follows aspiring surfer Cody Maverick as he attempts to live up to the legacy of Big Z, a surfing legend who mysteriously disappeared. Many would think that a so-called surfing legend would be an entertaining guy, but Big Z is the exact opposite- boring, cliché, and unentertaining. To be quick, he is unintentionally over-the-hill. Cody's friend, Chicken Joe (Heder) is about as dumb as his name. He's unintelligent, he's a chicken…we get it. Every movie always has to have a brain-challenged side character, and Surf's Up is no exception. Eventually, young Cody starts acting all tough and challenges the current surfing champion to a competition. It is here that Cody meets a female lifeguard to whom he falls in love with. That's the story in a nutshell. I can't explain it any better without spoiling it. Yes, it is that cheesy.I do not recommend seeing this movie.Good) nice water effects Bad) stupidly realistic characters, simple-as-hell story, immature, not funny Disney/Pixar) An animated movie normally fails if not done by either of the these two kings
It's a surfing documentary, with a story - but the surfers are cartoon penguins
posted on 22 Jun 2009Big wave riding in Tahiti - with penguins Imagine someone wanted to make a cartoon version of Riding Giants, the excellent surfing documentary, and wanted to throw in some documentary footage of 'Chopes' in Tahiti from the films, Blackwater and May Dayz, and other surfing documentaries, but said - hey, wait a minute, let's make it about penguins. We'll follow them with a film crew, sit them for interviews, have them talk about surfing. That's the angle. We see much of the film from the unseen documentary photographers. The penguins wax eloquent for their scribes, until at the end our hero finally says - I'm bored with talking about myself - and goes surfing.So what you have to start out are not Emperor penguins, as seen in the documentary - the hit documentary - March of the Penguins. You see another sort, Imperial penguins I think they are, with yellow fur and hair on their heads. I believe they are seen in the other great avian documentary, Winged Migration (staged though the shots may be with captive birds). So these yellow-topped penguins chase eggs and balance them on their feet, just as in March of the Penguins. The background looks like an animated version of that film. The penguins cluster in similar fashion. And so on.But they quickly move out of Antarctica. And the twist - it's a surf film. Two of the minor roles are named, and voiced by, two competitive big wave surfers - Kelly Slater and Rob Machado. They play penguins. The protagonist is young penguin whose father is killed, and who looks with amazement at a penguin named, Z, who was a competitive big wave surfing . . penguin . . when he was a youth. I can't help but think that our little hero is somewhat modeled after Laird Hamilton. In short, this is a surf film by those familiar with actual surfing, involving those who actually do surf, and aimed I think at a much more mature audience than five year olds. When I watched, many kids were present. And they seemed bored, except at the big stunts and sound effects, only occasionally used in the film, and for the dramatic climax. Maybe I read them wrong, I don't know.So a real surf film, by surfers, probably for surfers, but featuring penguins. I don't know. But it sort of works. The effects mimic what you'd see in real surf documentaries. The waves look the same, break the same, and so on. The penguins ride in the same 'slots', and the underwater shots are what you'd see in the documentaries, except that these are humanized penguins, and it's animated. The detail in this animation, in mimicing the real look of a surfbreak, is really something. You even get to ride inside 'the pipe' with our heroes, at certain points. I can see the video game out there even before the film. That's what I was thinking when I saw that.The voice actors are fine. There are some pauses that might have been best trimmed. The film could be a little punchier. It is also a bit clichéd. The main story is that our hero is the belittled lone surfer in his Antarctica group. A promoter comes by to watch him, and he grabs ahold of the 'boat' and is off to the contest. They don't spend much time in the land of March of the Penguins. Instead, they head to a south Pacific island, with a wave that looks suspiciously like that at Tay-a-who-poe, or 'chopes'. So, there they are in 'Tahiti', debating whether it's the contest that matters, or just surfing that's important. He finds a love interest in a tall 'lifeguard' penguin (Laird Hamilton's wife is quite tall, a beach volleyball player) - no surf patrol here, that's her job. She introduces him to an aged 'Geek', who turns out to be the long-lost 'Z', his boyhood hero; but who ran away by ducking into a wave and disappearing because he was bested by the villain, a big penguin named, Tank, and champion surfer. Tank is also to compete in our hero's contest. He also befriends a - chicken. A chicken. The chicken is a surfer from the upper midwest USA. And he's on 'the circuit'. He's sort of the absent minded, inattentive surfer dude. All those clichés are placed pretty much just on his character and none of the others.The hero's last name is Maverick. This south island wave they ride, while looking like 'chopes', breaks into a 'boneyard' of sharp rocks. Mavericks, in Half Moon Bay, CA, breaks right up to a reef of sharp protruding rocks, coming out of something called The Boneyard. The heroic 'Z' saves our hero, clutching him from the water, as a gigantic open ocean type of wave breaks way over on the boneyard, the massive lip, with full sound effect, coming right down on our heroes from 70 feet up or whatever it looks like. You couldn't hear a sound in the theater when the film suddenly went quiet. The promoter is quick to eulogize on the beach, and prepares to auction off the fallen surfer's boards. But it's a cartoon. So they survive, and come walking up the beach. 'Z' is recognized. Everyone is happy. And heck with the contest they say, there's surf over in the north lagoon - everybody, let's go - with the promoter screaming at them from behind.This is a film that might not actually appeal to little kids. And there are some unsettling moments. Wiping out, etc. But for kids who are no longer toddlers and up, and even for adults, I think the film will be appealing. As I said, an animated film about competitive surfers, who are penguins, apparently by surfers, voices by some surfers, and probably aimed at surfers. I liked it.
Surf's Up!
posted on 06 Jun 2009"Surf's Up" is the next animated film from Sony Pictures Animation, who made "Open Season", last fall's okay success. Their next film hit theaters for the summer, "Surf's Up". Surf's Up is a humorous look into the sport of penguin surfing and young penguin Cody Maverick's dreams to be a surfer.Cody lives in boring old Shiverpool, Antarctica (reference to Liverpool?), he is picked on by his older brother Glen, and his father was eaten by a whale (in a rather humorous photo), and met Big Z when he was little, who was a legend in penguin surfing, shown through vintage film. He told Cody to never give up.The 10th Big Z memorial surfing competition is coming up, and the crew are going on a worldwide tour to recruit surfers, and they come to Antarctica, and out of all the penguins, Cody joins and befriends Chicken Joe, a surfer chicken played Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite).However, Cody's main rival is Tank, a large surfer who cheats and is in it for winning, and was the reason of Big Z's alleged death. However, a big penguin called Geek gives Cody the help he needs (who is really Big Z), and a bunch of other characters to follow his dreams.The film was pretty much a "mockumentary", and it was pretty funny. My favorite gag would be the photo depicting of what Chicken Joe's father turned out to be. Chicken Joe is the funniest character, especially when he encounters the "pen-gu-ins".The animation in Surf's Up is really good, the water and sand animation was very impressive. Unlike Happy Feet's motion capture, Surf's Up is an impressive looking animated film. And another thing, Surf's Up wasn't made because of "the penguin trend". Surf's Up isn't a rip-off of Happy Feet either, it's a totally different movie.Surf's Up was in production for a while, and was not churned out in a year to be like Happy Feet. The film is fun, funny and worth it. I give it a 9.7 out of 10. This is one funny movie, I think people will enjoy it.
"...and you're sittin' on top of the world..."
posted on 06 Jun 2009Cody Maverick(Shia LeBouf), a rock-hopper penguin and native of Shiverpool, Antarctica, truly lives up to his surname, unlike his highly domestic mother and brother. He seems quite talented as far as finding his own way--he surfs when others fish, surfs when others sit on eggs, he surfs because that's who he is. The legend of Big Z, the emperor penguin who changed surfing forever, helped to make Maverick a maverick. So when neurotic event liaison bird Mikey Abromowitz (Mario Cantone) appears with a chance to compete in the annual "Big Z Memorial" competition, Cody literally jumps into the chance. Along the way, he meets characters such as Joe (Jon Heder, well-cast once again), a surfing chicken from Michigan, and Lani Aliikai (Zooey Deschanel), a lifeguard penguin who also knows a thing or two about Big Z. Like most other heroes of animated film, Cody learns something about what really matters, but don't let that put you off. This is some true summer fun, kept low-key, which, hopefully, will make this the sleeper hit of summer. Everyone is nicely cast, and the characters are easy to care about (that's saying a lot for modern cinema right there). The film looks wonderful as well--nice character design almost gets dwarfed by the environments, as the folks at Sony Animation show that they have successfully taught computers the difference between freezing, harsh Antarctic Ocean and beautiful, blue, tropical ocean. Truly stunning.I feel I should also mention the soundtrack; no Beach Boys, but still appropriate. If you've been waiting to hear Incubus, Green Day, or Lauryn Hill in more film soundtracks, now's your chance. The mockumentary approach makes it even more engaging while amping the laughs. Christopher Guest would be proud. All in all, if you're looking for a break from all the holler and hoopla that summer movies bring, and as Big Z says, you're ready to just have some fun, catch a wave...
Fantastic movie!!!! (May contain spoilers)
posted on 15 May 2009Surf's Up is DEFINITELY one of the greatest animated movies of all time. It has great character designs, tons of humor, and plenty of heart. This film also has superb, quality voice acting from many popular T.V. and movie stars (one refreshing thing about this movie is that Sony doesn't use the celebrities' names to overshadow the film like other studios usually do) including Shia LeBouef (Holes, I Robot), Jeff Bridges (The Last Unicorn, The Big Lebowski), James Woods (Straight Talk, Ghosts Of Mississippi, Hercules), Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, The Country Bears), and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, The Benchwarmers). Another good thing about this movie is it doesn't rely on puke and snot to get laughs. Even though it's somewhat predictable, it's not just another penguin movie, the "mockumentary" angle gives it a unique twist. This movie is a MUST-SEE!!!! Don't wait for the D.V.D., please go see it now. WAY TO GO SONY!!!! Hope there'll be some sequels and a T.V. series someday in the future.(Note: even though the movie is fairly family-friendly, it does have some mild innuendo and the movie's villain says part of a curse word before getting cut off.)
Nice fun diversion of an animated movie about Penguins surfing.
posted on 29 Aug 2009Natalie, a teenager, asked, "What's with all the Penguin movies lately?" I explained, they think that's where the money is! This little movie (about 80 minutes) is a 'mockumentary' about how Penguins invented surfing. It starts off a bit slow in that both my wife and I after 15 minutes questioned if we really wanted to keep watching the DVD. But we did, and it gets considerably more interesting after the little Penguin leaves Antarctica and gets to the island where the surfing competition will be held.Shia LaBeouf voices Cody Maverick, the confident but not cocky young Penguin who thinks he must be the best in the world, until he comes across those who really are good. In large part it is his story, to see if he can approach the former surfing skills of his hero, Big Z voiced by Jeff Bridges. (He and William Hurt sound a lot alike!) Zooey Deschanel has an easily recognized voice as the lady Penguin lifeguard Lani Aliikai, and Jon Heder was good as the voice of Chicken Joe, a chicken who became Cody's new best friend.The climax was the big surf-off where Cody and Chicken Joe went up against the current best Penguin Tank Evans, voiced by Diedrich Bader.Nice story and fine animation.