Dean reviews "Surf's Up."
First there was "March of the Penguins".... then "Happy Feet." Our tuxedo-like feather friends are hot, but the latest penguin-entry may tone down the craze.
"Surf’s up" is a harmless and not very creative story, done mockumentary-reality show style, about a young bird named Cory who has a passion for surfing thanks to his idol penguin, the Big Z. None of the other penguins understand his obsession.... so he takes off to enter a surf competition where he comes face to face the best and sometimes most arrogant penguin surfers in the world. A kindly old surfer takes him under his wing and teaches the impatient hang-ten-er about what's important in life.
It’s an OK story that kids will like better than parents. The writing and computer animation is flat with uninteresting characters for the uninspired voices of Shai La Beouf, Jeff Bridges and James Woods to work with.
The biggest kiddy laughs come with the half dozen or so body function jokes. Now, that's comedy that washed ashore a long time ago, even for kids.
I was bored with "Surfs Up" but at least it'll distract your little ones for an hour and half. A Dean's List "C"