Likely greenlit on the heels of the stunning worldwide success of March of the Penguins, I was a little wary ahead of watching Surf’s Up, fearing I’d have to sit through a boring copycat job that only tried to cash in on its predecessor’s accomplishments.
Luckily, I have to admit that I was wrong and that this animated movie is actually quite good and original. The most striking difference from any other cartoon I’ve seen on the big screen is its fake-documentary narration style that we’ve become so accustomed to watch on TV (think The Office or 30 Rock) but rarely at the movies (a voiceover narration is more common) and strictly with live action.
Surf’s Up tells the story of a young penguin who loves to surf and wants to make it big, following in the footsteps of his hero, Big Z. Will he be able to follow his dreams and make them reality? Will he have the support of family and friends? What is the reality of competitive surfing at the highest level?
All these questions and more are answered, via a smart script that will satisfy not just the little ones but their parents as well.
Grade: 7
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