This is a movie each person watching will interpret differently. While the animation is wonderful and the surfing is excellent the concept behind the story is questionable for children who have not reached an age where they can distinguish the difference between good friends and bad friends and where a person's life can lead by choosing the wrong friends. I would not recommend this movie for children in early elementary grades because of the subtle content. My teenage daughters advised me to not let their younger sister (9) watch until a few years older and can fully understand the messages the movie is trying to relay. They both agreed she would enjoy the fun, adventure, and animation of the movie but may be at an age when the content of the film would leave her with some mixed messages. While the reviews of this movie are totally different from mine, I strongly suggest each parent watch this movie and make their own determination of whether their child is old enough to understand or young enough that the content will escape them.Read full review
Perfect in length and content for kids of all ages. Some fun slapstick bouncing about and shouting sets the tone. Follow along in this documentary-feeling telling of the rise (and fall?) of Cody Maverick, a young surfing penguin following in the overlarge footsteps of Big Z. The voices are almost incidental although Jeff Bridges does a nice Big Z and Brian Posehn (of TV's Just Shoot Me) is wonderful as Cody's jealous brother, Glen. The story sticks to following our hero, his Zen-oblivious sidekick Chicken Joe and some great subcharacters. The movie avoids getting hung up too much on either redemption (Big Z's) or romance (Cody with Z's niece) while touching briefly on both. In the end it's all about fun and catching that big one!
This is really an excellent movie. It shows in depth surfing on the big waves. I really feel like I am out there with them... somehow it makes me think I can do it too... and I cant even swim! My daughter loves this film and makes surfboards for all of her favorite toys to surf along with Cody. Even the Cars figures she has have got surfboards and act out 'surfs up' even when the movie is not playing. It depicts sibling teasing and such, Cody's frustration with home life, how he really feels about his fathers death, he has a lesson to learn that shows that HE can be the one to change the attitudes of his life. One downside to the film is the use of the word 'crap' is uses a couple of times and "I can feel it in my nuggets" in one scene, and Tank Evans refers to one of his tropheys as his 'dirty girl'. These are two terms I do not want my daughter just bringing up while playing or in church... etc. So I have deleted those words in the film. It is all around a great family film if you take them out.Read full review
Strangely enough this animated movie about surfing penguins is one of the most authentic portrayals of surfing ever produced by Hollywood. The storylines are largely hollywood surfing cliches (think "North Shore" or "Big Wednesday") but they are often-used cliches because they are timeless and they seem to work. The surfing scenes are realistic, even to an experienced water person, and capture some of the excitement, danger, and mystical connection to the ocean familiar to surfers. The characters are fun (especially the baby penguins). All-in-all a good movie for the whole family with enough adult humor to keep an adult's attention. To really appreciate the value of this film you should watch the included special features; especially the featurettes about the voice acting and the "shaky camera" which detail some of the animation innovations that make this "cartoon" so believable. Don't be a "smelly trashcan full of poo"; see this movie and catch the stoke.Read full review
For every possible reason this is the finest animated feature i have ever seen. Great and heartwarming storyline. Cool and funny dialogue. Most convincing photo-realistic "surfing" sequences over conceived and executed. This movie will keep you laughing all the way thru. This the perfect feel good movie for every age - and you DON'T have to be a Surfer to GET IT!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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