Surf's Up (2007)

Directors:

Ash Brannon
Chris Buck

Writers:

Don Rhymer (screenplay) and
Ash Brannon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Hang six Summer 2007.

Plot:

A behind-the-scenes look at the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship, and its newest participant, up-and-comer Cody Maverick (LaBeouf).

Plot Keywords:

Antarctica | Breaking The Fourth Wall | CGI | Chicken | Igloo

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Shia LaBeouf	...	Cody Maverick (voice)
Jeff Bridges	...	Big Z / Geek (voice)
Zooey Deschanel	...	Lani Aliikai (voice)
Jon Heder	...	Chicken Joe (voice)
James Woods	...	Reggie (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Tank Evans (voice)
Mario Cantone	...	Mikey Abromowitz (voice)
Kelly Slater	...	Kelly (voice)
Rob Machado	...	Rob (voice)
Sal Masekela	...	SPEN Announcer (voice)
Ash Brannon	...	Filmmaker (voice)
Chris Buck	...	Filmmaker (voice)
Brian Posehn	...	Glen Maverick (voice)
Dana Belben	...	Edna Maverick (voice) (as Dana L. Belben)
Reed Buck	...	Arnold (voice)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Ireland:G | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Mexico:AA | Sweden:Btl | Taiwan:GP | Portugal:M/6 (original version) | South Africa:A | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:G | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/4 (dubbed version) | Brazil:Livre | UK:PG | Finland:S | South Korea:All | USA:PG (certificate #41481) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Malaysia:U | Norway:A | Denmark:A | Australia:G

Company:

Sony Pictures Animation

Trivia:

Was shipped to some theaters under the name "Competitive Spirits".

Goofs:

Continuity: After the argument with Big Z, Cody rips his big Z necklace off and during his walk to the line up its clearly seen that he's no longer wearing it, However in the long shot of the line up, you can see that Cody has the necklace on..and then in the following closeup its gone again.

Quotes:

Kate: [in a "vox pop" segment] My surfboard, uh, well, it's made out of palm wood... and while it's not very pretty,
[the skeg of said surfboard can be seen falling off]
Kate: ...it does the job quite well.

Movie Connections:

References Happy Feet (2006)

Soundtrack:

Into Yesterday

Surg and Surfing

The 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.