This problematic portrayal could be attributed to the specificities of the time period, but its potential to harm already underrepresented groups is still worth noting in discussions of the film. In its parody of American documentary filmmaking, it portrays “PenGu-ans,” an indigenous group of penguins from the island of Pen Gu, as a violent and uninhibited people. The film is chock full of quotable moments, TikTok-viral frames and nuanced humor - contributing to a balanced and enjoyable viewing experience for the entire family.Īlthough the film is undoubtedly an enjoyable watch, it is not immune to criticism. Lani and Cody build a friendship after the young surfer is wiped out by Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader), a cocky showboater who is projected to win the Big Z Memorial showdown. Upon his arrival to Pen Gu, Cody is instantly struck with Lani (Zooey Deschanel), a lifeguard at the competition. Chicken Joe surfing in Lake Michigan (Courtesy of IMDb) On the whale ride to idyllic Pen Gu Islans, Cody meets an eclectic cast of characters including the stoner-reminiscent Lake Michigan surfer Chicken Joe (Jon Heder), who becomes one of his closest friends. When Mikey Abromowitz (Mario Cantone), a scout for an international surfing competition, begrudgingly stops in Shiverpool on his world tour, Cody receives his big break. Who’s got the time in the day? Only six months in a day. “He wants to be different,” the older gentlemen remark. In one scene, older penguins with Yiddish a ccents comment on Cody’s aspirations. Throughout Shiverpool, Cody’s talents and ambition are undervalued by his friends and family, who encourage him to aim for more realistic goals. Through this contextualizing interview, Cody is revealed to be an angsty and misunderstood teenager who models his life after a legendary surfer who tragically passed away during a competition on Pen Gu Island.įrames from “Surf’s Up” evoke the dry formula of Ken Burns-esque historical documentaries, including slow camera pans across black-and-white images, colorful character-establishing interviews with various figures in Cody’s life and segments of coverage from SPEN, or Sports Penguin Entertainment Network. Cody is the focus of the film’s fictional documentary and the plucky and awkward protagonist of “Surf’s Up.” The film opens on a direct shot of Cody (Shia LaBeouf), a young and ambitious surfing enthusiast from Shiverpool. It is not only a family movie with bright and engaging characters, but also a commentary on sports journalism, a parody of surfing culture, the source of an impressive soundtrack album and a well-executed animated comedy. “Surf’s Up,” Dreamworks’ tongue-in-cheek counterpart to Pixar’s 2006 penguin movie “Happy Feet,” simultaneously achieves many things. As the summer solstice marks the official beginning of the season, it comes time to designate a movie of the summer - and Dreamworks’ 2007 animated penguin mockumentary “Surf’s Up” is certainly a contender.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |