Today’s quick review: The Endless Summer. Teenage surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August leave winter in California on a globe-spanning trip to chase the summer waves of the Southern Hemisphere. Their trip takes them down the west coast of Africa, around the tip of South Africa, and to Australia before returning to Hawaii and its perpetual summer weather. Along the way, they make friends with the locals, test the waves, and surf on beaches that have never been surfed before.
The Endless Summer is a surf documentary that samples surfing locations all around the world. Michael Hynson and Robert August set out on their ambitious trip with two surf boards, plenty of wax, and a suitcase full of trunks. Their exploits are narrated by filmmaker Bruce Brown, whose friendly explanations and knack for hyperbole make for pleasant viewing. The Endless Summer serves as an excellent introduction to surfing, with beginner-friendly explanations of the lingo and what conditions are ideal. Even to an outsider, the fun of surfing carries through. Footage from the boys’ trip is interspersed with clips of other surfers from Hawaii and California to provide a nice range of waves and styles. The documentary is rounded out by footage of the boys’ travels as they fly, drive, and hitchhike their way to beaches around the world.
The Endless Summer is a relaxing, entertaining documentary that is well worth the hour-and-a-half it takes to watch. It provides plenty of surfing, companionable narration, and a fun glimpse at the world through the eyes of a couple of California boys. Those who already enjoy surfing will get a lot out of the movie, while those who are less familiar with the sport will begin to get a feel for it by the end. While it’s only worth going out of your way for if you’re a surf fan, The Endless Summer is the perfect movie to watch when you want to unwind in front of a quick tour of the world’s beaches.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for quality footage and narration; your score may be higher if you are into surfing.