Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3296 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-12-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

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

Product description

Stills from Surf’s Up (click for larger image)

Synopsis
This animated mock documentary directed by Chris Buck (TARZAN) and Ash Brannon (TOY STORY 2) follows penguin Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) from his hometown of Shiverpool, Antarctica, where all of the other penguins think he's a surfing fool, to the 'Big Z Memorial Surf Off' on Pen Gu Island. This teenage penguin is determined to win the most important competition in the world of penguin surfing in honour of 'Big Z', a deceased surfing legend whom he has idolised since childhood. But the waves in Pen Gu are different than in Shiverpool, and the competition is steep. The current champ, egotistical Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader), isn't about to let this little penguin knock him from first place without a fight. When Cody wipes out and encounters Geek (Jeff Daniels), a recluse living in the jungle, he learns some important lessons about life and surfing, and even teaches Geek a thing or two. The documentary/reality show format is a delightful surprise, and side interviews with other characters make it particularly effective. The attention to detail in this feature is terrific. The foam, waves, sand, expressions, and movements are all quite realistic, and the voices are spot on. Shia LaBeouf hits the mark perfectly as Cody, and Jeff Daniels is fun as the aging former surfer, Geek, who imparts his wisdom to the newbie. Mario Cantone voices the perpetually exasperated talent scout, Mikey, who works for sports promoter Reggie (James Woods). Jon Heder and Zooey Deschanel also lend their talents as midwestern surfer dude Chicken Joe and the lovely lifeguard Lani, respectively. Sports Penguin Entertainment Network (SPEN) correspondents Kelly Slater and Rob Machado are voiced by their real-life surfing-legend counterparts. A soundtrack including a number of past pop hits is also a nice touch.

Customer Reviews

A fab family film!
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.

FANTASTIC!
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 puts Shrek 3 to shame!
I found Surf's Up to be very funny and it is even better then Happy Feet. The kids will love this and adults do too. The story is fresh, original and did I say funny. Buy this for the whole family to watch, trust me you won't regret it.