Today’s quick review: Surf’s Up. Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), a surfing penguin from Antarctica, gets the chance to make his dreams come true when he is invited to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off on a tropical island in the Pacific. But when Cody arrives, he learns that he is way out of his league. Now Geek (Jeff Bridges), a reclusive surf legend, and Lani (Zooey Deschanel), a compassionate lifeguard, must teach him how to really surf.
Surf’s Up is an animated family sports comedy about a young penguin who wants to become a great surfer. Styled as a mock documentary, the movie follows Cody as he learns about the true spirit of surfing. Surf’s Up has a simple setup that it puts to good use. The documentary format serves as a steady source of comedy, while the mash-up of penguins and surf culture works surprisingly well. However, the movie is held back by a limited plot.
Surf’s Up has a real talent for selling itself as a documentary. Not all of the movie adheres strictly to the format, but the well-placed narration, character interviews, and camera crew humor give Surf’s Up a comedic rhythm all its own. The movie is filled with short, funny character interactions that are perfectly timed. The voice cast also does an excellent job of making the dialogue seem off-the-cuff and natural.
The one major weakness of the movie is its plot. The story ape the structure of an underdog sports drama, but it skips as much of the formula as it can. In a certain sense, this is in keeping with the themes of the movie. Part of Cody’s training is learning to enjoy the sport and not be so competitive. But in practice, this attitude leads to an abridged plot that does not reach the triumphant heights of similar films.
Surf’s Up is a charming movie that is easy to overlook. Top-notch voice acting, subtly brilliant comedy, and a generally laid-back story make it a fun watch. However, the movie never quite commits to its story, robbing it of some of the structure and impact it needs. Give it a shot when you are in the mood for something light and creative. Skip it if you are looking for high stakes or something more memorable.
For a documentary look at the surf life, try The Endless Summer. For a more plot-driven animated comedy about an animal who longs to compete, try Turbo. For a comedy that pushes the mock documentary format even father, try This Is Spinal Tap or Zelig. For another animated comedy about penguins, try Happy Feet.
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423294/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for polished comedy wrapped around a mediocre story.