Given (2016) User Reviews

Family not who you think they are...

[veronicalmouser · 7/10 · 22 July 2017]

I enjoyed this documentary, yet once I looked up the family who starred in it, my feelings changed. The mother (Daize Goodwin) is a Multi-Level Marketer for a supplement company that is known to be a scam. She has a lot of Youtube videos sporting her 'brand new jeep' that she got from the company for finding people to sling products claiming to heal ailments (they have fake, non reputable reviews). It was disappointing to see that this documentary was more of a fictional "movie". If you check out her YouTube channel, the beauty of the documentary will fade, I promise.

A visually stunning adventure

[jdogletree · 9/10 · 11 April 2018]

I could not look away. An amazing movie that follows this extraordinary family. The narration and the cinematography just captivated you. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Film

[jvbofjc · 10/10 · 30 November 2017]

Beautifully executed documentary following Given and his family around the world. If you love the world's gorgeous scenery, the idea of living off the grid, and the perspective of a small child, you will enjoy this. The original score beautifully enhances the breathtaking and skillfully filmed scenery. A true feast for the eyes and ears.

Truely Stunning

[sophiebrownsa · 10/10 · 1 February 2019]

Created an account so I could rebuttal the reviews calling this movie "boring". It is visually so stunning- the amazing landscapes, people and animals they captured were etheral and the movies message as a whole about returning to basic humanity, empathy and kindness all while respecting, admiring and enjoying what our natural world has to offer was inspiring. I have recommended this movie to all of my friends and recommend it to anyone reading this review, I implore you to open your minds and learn from what this film has to offer.

Powerful

[addzjackson · 10/10 · 31 July 2017]

This documentary is powerful and inspiring. It follows a family as they leave their home in Kauai and travel to world surfing and learning many useful life skills with the focus on sustainable living in low populated areas.

I would recommend this film to all of my friends and any people who are interested in world travel or finding real happiness in their life.

Magical

[2jdv · 10/10 · 9 July 2017]

This film is beautifully shot, excellent pace, and an absorbing story. The narration by the boy is perfect as we travel the world over with his surfer parents and a quest for the Big Fish. It is a quiet film but as it unfolds it is an absolute treat to see so many places so exquisitely filmed, with a special attention to lighting. It is not a "surfer" movie, although there are wonderful shots of surfing, nor is it a "boys" movie, although the story as told by Given is enchanting. These are the real people telling the story of their real lives and an inspiration for all.

Like a very long beer commercial...

[dgropp · 4/10 · 23 June 2018]

A documentary of what exactly? This "movie" is boring, annoying and completely plotless. The only given narrative is of a juvenile story about a big fish roaming the oceans and they look for him all over the world's tourist attractions (even when it's not near the ocean). The main themes here are:

• Watch how beautiful people walk topless everywhere, which is sometimes extremely inconsiderate of local people (on a bus in Nepal??!!).
• Watch how these beautiful people have beautiful children.
• Watch how these beautiful people embark on a "great adventure", which is basically flying all over the world and go to the most touristy places.
• Watch how a hippie father teaches his son to treat animals solely as food and hunting practice.
• Watch extremely well-shot surfing and nature scenes - basically the only reason to switch from seeing the trailer to watching the movie (and the disappointment that follows).

A absolut heartwarming and visual stunning documentary

[gerrith · 29 May 2018]

A documentary more powerful and inspiring is hart to find.

I would recommend this film to all of my friends and any people who like to experience a journey around the world with a real cool family and at the same time see the most esthetic and awesome moments on every place. Like a fairytale. And to all who like to find real happiness in their life, like this family seems to have in abundance. Not the usual travel-documentary. A very unusual and heartwarming film to make the world a better place.

Extremely boring

[lundqvist-marika · 2/10 · 10 September 2017]

Extremely boring and self-ended movie.

If you're a fan of surfing, and/or women in bikinis, you might find it interesting in some way.

Hoping to see a movie about exploring life and the world... you might not find it that interesting.

Some could say the world from the child's point of view adds meaning to the film, I wouldn't say that, in this case.

Nothing worth watching here

[dlewis-38269 · 2/10 · 25 March 2019]

This was a surprise, it is unusual you find a surf film on Netflix, however it didn't take long until it was clear that this was a total pretentious load of BS. I am an artist and surfer and therefore it should have been the audience it was seeking, but it is one of the most self indulgent pieces of film making I have ever seen!! I was immediately patronised by the formula. A family travels around the world and gets their child to narrate with a very weak legend of a big fish in the ocean. It had no message, it is just a self absorbed vehicle to pay for the family to travel the world and surf. The child had no choice of going where his family chose, therefore no authority on the experience. He will most likely totally forget about it by the time he is in his teenage, or adult life. It would have been worth watching if, it had been about a terminally sick person, making the most of their final months on this planet, giving wisdom on the life and beautiful splendour of life and our planet. This is just a blatant attempt to pay for their lifestyle of travelling around doing what they like with little consideration to the cultures they meet. It is an insult of a film, to pay for their lifestyle, we literally learn nothing, no political statement, nothing. Don't waste your time!