Yes, Penguins Invented Surfing...Indeed...

Movie Review

Surf's Up

Directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Oh, another movie about penguins? Wait, let me correct myself: another CGI movie about penguins? So, what's new this time? Well, for starters, these penguins claimed that they were the ones who invented surfing (along with cave paintings for proof), and instead of the cold arctic ice, they surf in a tropical island. Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LaBeouf), a local denizen of Shiverpool (ha ha, SHIVERpool...get it?), inspired by a visiting surfing legend Big Z (Jeff Bridges), grew up to be a surfer-wannabe, though he really needs to learn some more moves. Due to his inspiring to be a surfer, he becomes some sort of an outcast in his community of honest, hard-working, fish-collecting penguins. Shunned by his community and his own family, he longs to find an opportunity to prove himself. One day, that golden opportunity presents itself in the form of a tournament. Well, dear reader, you'd probably know where the story's going next so I won't elaborate further.

The whole theme of the coming of age of a penguin that is slightly different than the rest sounds quite familiar, isn't it? So, you'd probably be asking, what's so different this time? Well, aside from the surfing part, one thing that stands out is that the film is presented in a style that is a cross between a documentary and a reality show. So, you'll get a bit of a shaky camera angle, and the cast (the penguins, of course, not the voice actors) voicing their opinions on certain scenes or events during the movie in a set up that resembles a lot like interviews. Watching the movie is like watching 'the-making-of' documentary. Weird as it sounds, this set up actually works, and somehow became a part of the many comical scenes in the movie.

Another thing worth mentioning about the movie is that the computer graphic here is really good. Since this movie is about surfing, the creators really pay a lot of attention and effort into making the waves and the sea look realistic. Quite an achievement, I must say.

If you have a thing for CGI movie, and looking for something that is slightly different in presentation, it wouldn't hurt watching this movie. And, for casual audience, this movie will definitely entertain you with a lot of wacky scenes. Surf's up, dude!

(P. S. Watched this movie and Blades of Glory in one weekend, went to imdb and realized that these two have something in common: John Heder, who played as Jimmy MacElroy in Blades and voiced Chicken Joe in Surf's Up...ooooh, serendipity!)