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Surf's Up [2007] | ![Surf's Up [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618gztkuATL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Directors: Chris Buck, Ash Brannon
Actors: Shia Labeouf, Jeff Bridges, Jon Heder
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £3.00
You Save: £16.99 (85%)
New (31) Used (16) from £2.37
Rating:  16 reviews
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 82 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822209435
ASIN: B000SNUQZ8
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: December 10, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW WRAPPED MOST ORDERS RECIEVED BEFORE 3PM DISPATCHED SAME DAY (MONDAY TO FRIDAY) PLEASE CHECK OUR FEEDBACK
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Surf's Up is a computer-animated sports mockumentary about penguin surfing contests, which makes it stand out from the crowd of penguin movies. The story unfolds as it would on any sports-channel on TV, with interviews (with penguins) overlapping footage of (penguin) surfing action, gradually unveiling the tale of Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LaBeouf, Transformers), a young penguin from Antarctica with dreams of winning a surfing competition--a competition named after his idol, the missing Big Z (Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski). But when he joins the competition, Cody finds his zeal for winning may not be enough to defeat the cruel reigning champ, Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader, Grim & Evil). The story of Surf's Up is typical stuff: Youngster learns to value friendship over material success. But the documentary style gives the movie a different rhythm from the usual feature-length cartoon; it stutters and skips around, dithers on side topics, and backtracks to catch up with supporting characters. Some viewers may be annoyed, but others--perhaps the more media-savvy--will find it a refreshing change of pace. (Kids who don't watch much sports, however, may just find it confusing.) Surf's Up also features the voices of James Woods (Hercules), Zooey Deschanel (Elf), and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). --Bret Fetzer
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| Customer Reviews:
 Has Charm But Doesn't Do Much (except for the doc-style) to Distinguish Itself July 31, 2007
TomBeTom (Nottinghamshire, England)
7 out of 19 found this review helpful
Say what you will about the advancement of computer animation over the past decade, 2007 is a sorry and poor year for animated motion pictures. Aesthetically, cartoons have never looked so beautiful, photorealistic and snazzy before. But when it comes to storytelling prowess and originality, the filmmakers working in the genre today seem to have little inspiration to set themselves apart from the crowd and provide something never before glimpsed both on the surface and underneath it. If "Surf's Up", the latest penguin-centric animation to hit the big screens, can be credited for something, it is that it doesn't lack individuality through-and-through. That being said, "Surf's Up" nevertheless drags itself down and renders itself instantly disposable by overloading the dialogue and interactions of its characters with lame toilet humour and widely unfunny one-liners. Fact is, this family-targeted animated comedy barely makes the viewer laugh, however much it may please the eye with its documentary-style layout.
"Surf's Up" is an animated movie shot as a documentary about wannabee surfer, penguin Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf). Following a chance encounter with revered penguin surfer Big Z (Jeff Bridges), who tragically died in a surfing accident not long afterwards, when Cody was a child, the ambitious penguin set out to become one of the best surfer's in the entire world. Hand-picked by talent scout bird Mike Abromowits (Mario Cantone), Cody is scheduled to compete in Big Z's Memorial Surf Off on Pen Gu island. Cody's inital enthusiasm for the contest that has special meaning to him is somewhat shattered, though, when cocky top surfer Tank Evans (Deidrich Bader) shows that Cody won't be a match for him. Such pessimism, however, is eviscerated when Cody discovers that Big Z is, in fact, still alive. Nowadays, Big Z is a recluse who disappeared from the pubic eye through the fear of letting down his fans. From thereon, Cody tries to convince Big Z to help train him for the championship games, determined to defeat all-comers -- including Tank Evans -- and prove himself a true top-boarder.
Though the dialogue they're forced to utter is cluttered with ineptitude and poor jokes, the voice talent still somehow manage to distinguish themselves and inject some likeability into their talking animal characters. As ambitious Cody Maverick, Shia LaBeouf once again finds himself in the limelight, despite not actually being glimpsed in the flesh. As usual, he injects personality and charisma into the role, making Cody someone worth caring about. Also charming is Zooey Deschanel, lovely and acceptably caring as sweet-hearted lifeguard Lani, Cody's emminent love interest. Voicing Big Z with perfectly cast vocal tones and a laid back demeanor, Jeff Bridges is wonderfully cast as the reclusive surfer. Diedrich Bader is a perfect fit for Tank Evans too, though his character isn't given snappy enough lines to warrant Bader's expert voice work. As naive chicken Joe, Jon Heder gets the occasional zinger in there, but is generally the most bland of the bunch.
"Surf's Up" is refreshing, setting itself apart from the majority of its peers with an interesting premise of one boy's surf adventure shot as a documentary. Other than that, though, the movie is just another run-of-the-mill time filler likely to keep children moderately entertained, keep some of the adult viewers' attention with its throwbacks and references to motion pictures of years gone by, and wholly fails in captivating or completely impressing either demographic. Co-director Ash Brannon worked on "Toy Story 2", so its immediately embarassing that his latest venture comes with a thoroughly mediocre film like "Surf's Up", which doesn't come close to reaching the heights of the aforementioned 1999 release. Alongside Chris Buck, Brannon does his job very well, but is unable to make the film particularly riveting up until the climactic, inevitable surf-off.
Written by Lisa Addario, Christian Darren, Don Rhymer and Joe Syracuse with far too many flatulence and poop jokes thrown into the mix, "Surf's Up" is an occasionally very good film dragged down by unworthy undertones. One thing that can be said about the writers' effort is that they succeed in making the protagonist(s) worth caring about, even though one isn't enclined to feel overjoyed or, alternately, downbeat when they lose or fail. The characters are likeable, but the movie as a whole becomes a totally indifferent affair valuable as a cinematic release only in its aesthetic stylings. Beyond that, "Surf's Up" is a vacuous disappointment.
A fab family film! December 1, 2007
L. Felthouse (Derbyshire, UK)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I love animated movies. Yes, I'm a big kid at heart and not frightened of admitting it. However, the way things are going in the movie business at the moment, it would be easy to get bored of all these animated movies, particularly as lots of them star talking animals. But as I said, the big kid won over and I thought I'd give this one a spin.
I haven't seen Happy Feet so am unable to draw any comparison between the two. I'll just take Surf's Up for what it is. Which is actually a very good movie.
The plot of this movie - which is filmed as a documentary - follows Cody Maverick, an ambitious surfing penguin. Born in Shiverpool, Antartica, Cody is desperate to get out and make something of himself, and he feels surfing is his ticket out of town. Cody's day job as a fish-sorter is increasingly getting him down, so when the talent scout for the Big Z Memorial Surf Off on Pen Gu Island arrives in Shiverpool, he jumps at the chance to go and compete.
Big Z has been Cody's idol since he was a baby. Big Z was killed in a surf off many years ago, but it hasn't stopped Cody aspiring to surf like him. So the Memorial Surf Off is his biggest dream, and with his cocky attitude, he is certain he can win. But he hasn't reckoned on the bigger, scarier waves on Pen Gu Island, or Tank Evans - the champion of the Surf Off for nine years running.
Evans, the most vain, egotistical penguin you're ever likely to meet isn't really worried about Cody. He doesn't see some small town penguin as a threat, and an impromptu challenge between the two verifies this fact. Cody is wiped out, along with his confidence.
This is where the story really begins. Cody meets some unlikely friends whilst on Pen Gu Island and begins to realise that surfing isn't all about competition - it's about doing it for the fun of it. As this realisation hits him, Cody changes his outlook on life and embraces his new-found friends all the more, and even finds love.
I thought this was a really good movie. The graphics were absolutely stunning, even on my tiny TV! I would love to see what they look like in HD. But I digress. Surf's Up looks good, and the documentary style made it different to so many other films and I really thought it worked because you get the clever asides and rolling-of-the-eyes to the camera, which appealed to my sense of humour.
The characters and storyline were great too. But what really put the icing on the Surf's Up cake for me was the character Chicken Joe, voiced by Jon Heder. Chicken Joe was absolutely hilarious all the way through, a totally spaced out but lovable character with the majority of the `funnies' in the script. That role was made for Heder's voice.
If you like CGI movies - there's no reason why you won't enjoy this. It isn't as packed with jokes as some recent animated movies, but the storyline and characters are great fun and there's a moral to the story which will appeal to parents teaching little ones right from wrong. All in all, a fab family film.
 Loved it! March 12, 2008
B.
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is the way a mocumentary should be done. Jeff Bridges as an aged surfer-dude was an inspired bit of casting. I've watched this with my 7 year-old daughter multiple times and we both agree it's one of our favorite animated films. Well worth owning.
FANTASTIC! October 24, 2007
M. Smith
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Do not hesitate to buy this movie.
I watched it a few weeks ago and I have watched it about 5 times and am not bored.
I first expected this to be a baby film, but anybody will enjoy it.
Surf's Up November 19, 2007
R. Peters (Devon, UK)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you are a surfer yourself, you will love this film. (plus the soundtrack is awesome)
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