There are two types of people when it comes to watching movies. (I always hesitate to start sentences like this because, being an Enneagram 4, I know some of you are looking for a chance for denial. But bear with me, I think I’m right on this one.) Some people pride themselves in their diverse and dynamic knowledge of various films. Then there are others who pick a small handful of movies, somewhere around the age of middle school, and rewatch them until they’ve adopted the script into their own vernacular. Say what you will about each type of person, but this week, I’d like to share with you my favorite out of my small arsenal of memorized movies.
In 2007, Sony Pictures Animation released the studio’s first and arguably only worthwhile film in their history: Surf’s Up. (Upon further reflection, I will apologetically revise this to: the only worthwhile film in the studio’s history until the 2015 release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.)
Undoubtedly, 2007 was one of the greatest years for cinematic movies with a target demographic of ages 5+. Films such as Meet the Robinsons, Bee Movie and, of course, Pixar’s magnum opus Ratatouille set the bar high for what a kids movie could be. Surf’s Up is no exception to this consistency.
I hesitate to reveal too much of the plot of the movie because I’d personally pay a lot of money to go back and watch this movie again for the first time, basking in its glorious angst with a fresh pair of eyes. However, for the sake of piquing interest, I’ll succumb.
The plot of Surf’s Up is actually fairly simple, but that in no way means the movie is. In a flawless mockumentary style, the movie follows the story of Cody Maverick, voiced by Shia LaBeouf, a 17-year-old penguin who just wants a chance to “go away” from his home in Antarctica and make a name for himself as a professional surfer. Through his interactions with Big Z, the surfer Cody had idolized his entire life, he climactically realizes that winning isn’t everything. It’s the journey that counts.
I want to be vague about the actual events of the movie so that you’ll actually gain something from watching it. (You can currently catch it on Netflix or Amazon Prime). However, I don’t want to gloss over the relationship between Z and Cody as it is a pivotal reason for my affection for this movie.
Big Z had lost himself by the time Cody arrived at the competition. He was wasting his days away as a recluse, relying on his niece to bring him food so that he could continue sleeping in his hammock for the remainder of his life. Though he obviously wants to believe his life is better now that he’s out of the spotlight, his interactions with Cody, who is full of the thrill for life and a longing to make something out of it, remind him what it’s like to live life with and for others. Watching the father-son relationship develop between them is something truly beautiful to witness. It sucks you out of the idea that the movie is about surfing penguins and immerses you in the bonding that occurs through shared pain and life experiences.
On the other hand, if the emotional appeal is of little interest to you, the soundtrack alone is reason enough for you to watch this movie. It features songs from Greenday, New Radicals and a plethora of others that you would play if you were posing as a native on a tropical island. The themes this movie presents are surprisingly mature and heartfelt. They leave you with the same feeling you get after reuniting with the friends you were raised by.
Whatever reason you choose to back your decision, I genuinely implore you to watch this movie. The passion the creators had for this project is obvious by the way that it turned out. Along with the morals previously discussed, there’s a good chance you’ll walk away from it feeling inspired to make some waves of your own.
