Movies Reviews

Soul Surfer – Movie Review

By Anne Brodie Apr 8, 2011, 14:06 GMT

A biopic centers on the surf icon (Robb) who defied all odds to compete and win professional championships after losing her arm in a shark attack at age 13. Quaid and Hunt play Hamilton\'s parents, and Underwood has taken on the role of a church youth leader. ...more

It was one of those news stories that hit us square between the eyes, a promising young surfer attacked by a shark, losing her arm, getting right back on that board and surfing to victory. 

Let’s face it; there won’t be any surprises in this film!  But it does reawaken our admiration for Bethany Hamilton, the little surfer that could.

It’s a feel good story and this is a feel good film. It celebrates Bethany’s spirit of adventure, commitment, passion and working towards a goal despite every obstacle.  AnnaSophia Robb puts in a dynamic, dignified and believable performance that never veers into sentimentality.  She even appears to do some of the surfing stunts.

Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid play her parents, former beach bums and surfers who settled on the beach in Hawaii, homeschooling their children and instilling in them love of the ocean and respect for its power.  Bethany grew up in water more than on land. She and her friends are aiming at professional surfing and dedicate themselves to the hard work it takes.

But as fate would have it, one sunny day she lingered on her board, arms in the water when a shark pounced.  Fortunately friends got her to the hospital in pretty short time, the same hospital where her father was undergoing knee surgery.

And thus begins a long period of rehabilitation for the 16 year old. She experiences rather brief periods of depression and hopelessness and the frustration of not being able to tie her hair up, open a loaf of bread, or a host of other mundane chores we all take for granted. 

Her periods of darkness are rather short, thanks in part to the support of her family and friends.

Bethany rediscovers her faith through her youth pastor (Carrie Underwood) who helps her discover new interests.  Bethany travels with a local youth church group to Thailand to assist the victims of the tsunami.  She has been struggling with the idea of surfing again, but finds herself in her familiar place, the ocean, teaching displaced Thai children surfing.

And she can surf. As miraculous as it sounds, she gets on her board and after battling balance issues, seems to be headed back. But the journey isn’t easy.  It’s an eye opener and she discovers how strong she is. 

The film is a study in triumph and endeavor but it doesn’t satisfy.  Bethany’s dark moments take place in a few minutes, where it would seem someone in a position like that in the real world might actually suffer.  Her family is saintly, her friends are perfect friends.  Her church is perfectly there for her. 

In all, it’s just too perfect, as though the pain of the ordeal was somehow purposely hidden.  The problem is that Bethany’s triumphs would have greater impact on her and her world, and offer far tougher challenges than we see.

It’s the tone that seems wrong, too much Pollyanna, too little realism.  Missed opportunities for true transformation are unfortunate. The filmmakers took the sweet route on which perpetual smiles hide deeper truths. 

Visit the DVD database for more information.

35mm drama
Written by Sean McNamara et al, based on Bethany Hamilton’s book “Soul Surfer”
Directed by Sean McNamara
Opens: April 8
Runtime:
MPAA:Rated PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material
Country: US
Language: English