The Story:
The inspiring true story of 15 year old Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) who just loves to surf. Inspired by his neighbor Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler), he wants to learn how to surf Mavericks. Those are the giant waves that will kill normal mortals. The two begin their training as they prepare to face the Mavericks at the end of the season. Will Jay be ready??
Of course he will!
Now, I'm not sure how inspiring it is. This has to be one of most downer of an endings movie I've seen in a bit. More on that in a second...
First, the relationship between the two surfers is an interesting dynamic. Again, Butler's charisma on screen carries him through most roles fairly effortlessly.
Here's a man that doesn't want to give up surfing, and yet has every reason to do so.
Fate naturally will intervene later and make sure that Frosty never suits up again to stare down the Mavericks, and sadly, Frosty has to grow up and learn that lesson.
As for Jay, well, him and all of the other "teenagers" are played by kids that look older than me. ;)
But seriously, I don't for a minute believe any of them are young enough to still be in High School. In fact, the movie has a real issue with characters and aging.
Heck, Elisabeth Shue plays Jay's mom, and she looks younger than the girlfriend!
Aside from that, the scenes on the ocean are spectacular. If they really surfed, it looked great and believable. If it was done CGI, it was well done and didn't look fake.
Thankfully, most of the movie is filmed on the ocean, so it keeps you involved.
Then when the movie ends, you just think to yourself... Really? That really happened?
That's the hardest part to believe, moreso than surfing monster waves.
Shame.
Final Grade: C+, carried on Butler's shoulders and the cinematography.
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again in the distant future, but won't actively seek it out.
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