SURF’S UP

SURF’S UP is a well-made, entertaining family movie with first-rate animation and impressive surfing scenes. Its central lesson is worthwhile: life holds more meaning than winning, and becoming less selfish can help you find your purpose.

The movie’s main weakness is Cody himself. He remains abrasive until near the end, even as some other characters prove much more likable. The bathroom humor is also unnecessary, including gas, liquids and solids being excreted from the body and urine used as a cure.

If your family can handle mild language, rude humor and comic action, this is WORTH THE TRIP.

Cody is a small penguin from Shiverpool, Antarctica, who dreams of becoming a star surfer like his hero, Big Z. When a surfing talent scout searches for competitors for a Big Z memorial competition, Cody joins the surfers traveling to tropical islands. There he faces reigning champion Tank Evans, much larger waves, and the challenge of learning that winning is not everything.

Four stars means this is a highly entertaining, well-made family film. The animation is first-rate, and the waves in some of the surfing scenes are impressive. The semi-documentary format, with a film crew supposedly following Cody, gives the story a distinctive presentation.

Cody’s character development is less successful. He improves, but remains rather abrasive until very near the end, while some of the other characters are more likable. Still, the quality of the animation and the uplifting conclusion make this a strong animated family movie.

SURF’S UP presents a light moral worldview centered on becoming less selfish, finding purpose and learning that there is more to life than winning. Cody’s journey moves him away from self-centered ambition, although he begins as a loner and does little to deserve the friendship he receives.

The film also includes some behavior that falls short of a biblical model. Cody and his brother are highly disrespectful toward their mother in an early interview, and the story contains snide remarks and taunts that put others down. Its moral vision is encouraging, but it is expressed through a character who remains abrasive for much of the movie.

The film’s longing to find purpose beyond achievement connects with the biblical reminder that life is not measured by winning. Scripture says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

With first-rate animation, impressive surfing and an uplifting conclusion, SURF’S UP offers your family an entertaining lesson about purpose beyond winning. The bathroom humor and rude remarks are unnecessary, but they do not erase the film’s strengths. For families comfortable with its mild content, this is WORTH THE TRIP.