DVD Reviews: 'Surf's Up'
DVD Reviews: 'Surf's Up'

Comments Comment on this article0

Published: October 12, 2007

"Surf's Up”
"Surf's Up” got a deal rawer than a penguin's dinner. The film had the bad luck of being the second computer-generated penguin film in a year, following the inferior but massively successful "Happy Feet.” So "Surf's Up” wiped out at the box office, but it's a complete gas: a mock-documentary about young penguin Cody Maverick's quest to become a champion surfer. At times, it looks uncannily like a classic Bruce Brown surf doc, except with flightless waterfowl on long boards.

Advertisement

The key to the artistic success of "Surf's Up” is an uncommon voice-looping technique: the actors, including Shia LaBeouf, Jon Heder, Zooey Deschanel, Brian Posehn, James Woods and the superb Jeff Bridges, worked together in the studio instead of recording their parts separately as it is done in most CG films. There is chemistry and interaction here that often feels improvised, as if this were a true documentary. The interaction between LaBeouf and Bridges, riffing on a version of his performance as The Dude from "The Big Lebowski,” is positively classic.

The documentary elements will probably sail over younger viewers' heads like a perfect wave, but the interview segments evoke the same magical realism among older viewers as Nick Park's "Creature Comforts” did. "Surf's Up” is as fun as a day at the beach. And besides, which is more interesting: watching a bunch of birds dancing or watching them hang six on a pipeline?

George Lang


 


Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford

Junkmycar.com
Read this Towing & Wrecking Service's reviews & find Auto Info.
Oklahomacity.Citysearch.com

Oklahoma City Jobs
$30/Hour Work From Home Jobs.View Home Jobs Now! Computer Required.
National-News-Gazette.com

shareView All

Buzz Up!


Leave a Comment

Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online

Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.


Log in below or sign up (it's free).






    A&E Photo Galleriesview all