Brannon and Buck, both of whom cut their teeth in Disney's animation studios, have constructed this movie in such a way that it offers something of value to viewers of all ages. There's nothing childish about Surf's Up. It's also good enough to warrant attention by adults unencumbered by offspring. Hopefully parents will give this movie a chance. Even though it's teeming with the suddenly ubiquitous birds in tuxedos, Surf's Up will still be swamped by the tsunami of the inferior but better branded third Shrek. Nevertheless, the screenplay is of high enough quality that one is willing to look past the fact that this isn't the best animated feature of 2007.Īs is often the case, it's the unheralded movie that provides the better value for the entertainment dollar. No one is going to rhapsodize about the poetry of the film's images. The visuals in Surf's Up are good enough to tell the story, but no more. It's not ugly or unaccomplished by any means but, when stacked against the visual splendor of the otherwise unappetizing Shrek the Third, it looks second rate. If there's a downside to Surf's Up, it's that the animation is far from cutting edge. Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, and Mike Myers are not missed. There are no superstars, but the recognizable voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Jon Heder, James Woods, and Zooey Deschanel provide a comfortable level of familiarity. Whatever the reason, there's more warmth and a better sense of camaraderie than one usually senses in an animated film. Reportedly, directors Ash Brannon and Chris Buck insisted that the cast interact while reading the dialogue rather than doing it alone in a booth. There's a lot more life in the vocal acting than is often the case in animated movies. Sadly, the film doesn't answer one burning question: how do penguins kiss with those beaks? Surf's Up offers a pleasant, satisfying mix - even the resolution doesn't turn out exactly as expected. The "archival footage," scratched and tinged yellow, will bring a smile to many faces. The film has plenty of funny one-liners, memorable moments, and pleasant digs at televised sports and reality shows. It's written on a level that works for adults and kids - something that hasn't been true of many non-Aardman animated features in several years. The script for Surf's Up is clever and hasn't been penned solely with six-year olds in mind. It's kind of like a feathery stoner version of The Karate Kid with the Big Lebowski as Mr. He also gets friendly with slinky lifeguard Lani (Zooey Deschanel) and learns important truths about fun being more important than winning. Before he can take to the waves, however, Cody gets life lessons from his all-time hero, Big Z (Jeff Bridges), who's hanging out in obscuria. Surf's Up borrows a page from Christopher Guest's book - it's constructed as a fake documentary about the life and times of would-be surfer penguin Cody Maverick (voice of Shia LaBeouf), who travels from his home in Antarctica to compete in the Big Z surfing contest against the likes of good-natured Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) and self-absorbed Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader). In the process, they deliver the kind of wit we had hoped for from Shrek the Third but didn't get. They're just out to catch some tasty waves. In Surf's Up, the penguins aren't into saving the world or displaying family values or escaping from a zoo. Even Morgan Freeman's narration isn't missed. And, although it may not be the best-looking of those movies, it has the smartest, slickest script and the best voice acting. Yet I must admit that of the four recent penguin-centered movies, Surf's Up is the most entertaining. After Madagascar, March of the Penguins, and Happy Feet, it's time to move on to some new species of beast or fowl.
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