surf up 19

A surfing penguin currently riding the wave of success enters his first professional competition in this computer-animated family-oriented comedy from directors Chris Buck and Ash Brannon. Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) may be a relative amateur when it comes to hanging ten, but he's sure he has what it takes to surf his way to superstardom. With a little help from his cantankerous King Penguin mentor, ex-surfing legend Big Z (Jeff Bridges), and a little encouragement from star Pen Gu Island lifeguard Lani (Zooey Deschanel), there may be hope for this tuxedo-clad wave twister after all. James Woods, Jane Krakowski, Michael McKean, Jon Heder, Mario Cantone, and Brian Benben all lend their voices to this inspirational tale that proves anything is possible when you put your heart and mind to it. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Review
All penguined out after the one-two punch of March of the Penguins and Happy Feet? Well, save room for one more. Despite potentially seeming like a crass grab at the tuxedoed coattails of these other penguin movies, Surf's Up is a funny, warm, and highly enjoyable salute to the ever-cinematic sport of surfing. It also happens to be the world's first feature-length animated mockumentary. Surf's Up expands on the logic of the outtakes included in the closing credits of Pixar films -- outtakes designed purely to break the fourth wall, since cartoons aren't actually capable of flubbing their lines. An animated documentary has the same effect of making its universe "really real," which allows viewers to effortlessly embrace the characters and the scenarios. (Plus, it's funny to watch interviewed penguins banter with the boom operator.) The imaginary hubs of wave-riding activity featured here, from the jutting ice floes of Antarctica to the gnarled rocks of Pen Gu Island, are glorious and inspired. But the true inspiration comes in the vocal casting. Surf's Up opts for a refreshing slate of animation newcomers, including Shia LaBeouf displaying his usual charming pluck, Zooey Deschanel easily transplanting her wry sarcasm, Jeff Bridges excelling as the superficially cranky mentor, and Jon Heder as a stoner-like chicken named Joe. Co-director Chris Buck also helmed Disney's Tony Hawk-influenced Tarzan, and those extreme-sports sensibilities seem to further benefit him here. Did Surf's Up have to be about penguins? Maybe not, but a wintry bird excelling at a summer pastime just adds to the underdog quality that makes films like this click. Add in the fact that it doubles as a lampoon of/homage to the great surfing documentaries, such as The Endless Summer and Riding Giants, and surf junkies should be just as geeked for it as their kids. ~ All Movie Guide
Cast

* Shia LaBeouf - Cody Maverick
* Jeff Bridges - Geek
* Zooey Deschanel - Lani Aliikai
* Jon Heder - Chicken Joe

James Woods - Reggie Belafonte; Diedrich Bader - Tank Evans; Mario Cantone - Mikey Abromowitz; Kelly Slater - Kelly; Rob Machado - Rob; Ash Brannon - Filmmaker; Sal Masekela - SPEN Announcer; Chris Buck - Filmmaker; Brian Posehn - Glen Maverick; Dana L. Belben - Edna Maverick
Credit
Sylvain Deboissy - Art Director, Ronald W. Lukas - Art Director, Marcelo Vignali - Art Director, Sony Pictures Imageworks - Animator, Mary Hidalgo - Casting, Lydia Bottegoni - Co-producer, Chris Buck - Director, Ash Brannon - Director, Ivan Bilancio - Editor, Jenny Fulle - Executive Producer, Mychael Danna - Composer (Music Score), Liza Richardson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Paul Lasaine - Production Designer, Christopher Jenkins - Producer, Christopher Jenkins - Screen Story, Christian Darren - Screen Story, Chris Buck - Screenwriter, Don Rhymer - Screenwriter, Lisa Addario - Screenwriter, Ash Brannon - Screenwriter, Christopher Jenkins - Screenwriter, Rob Bredow - Visual Effects Supervisor, Chad Stewart - Supervising Animator, Renato Dos Anjos - Supervising Animator, Chris Hurtt - Supervising Animator, Peter Nash - Supervising Animator, Steven Ticknor - Supervising Sound Editor, Sylvain Deboissy - Character Design
Similar Movies
Happy Feet; Finding Nemo; Ice Age; Lilo & Stitch; Shark Tale; Cars
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Wikipedia: Surf's Up (film)
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Surf's Up

Theatrical poster for the film
Directed by Ash Brannon
Chris Buck
Produced by Chris Jenkins
Lydia Bottegoni
(co-producer)
Written by Chris Jenkins
Don Rhymer
Ash Brannon
Chris Buck
Starring Shia LaBeouf
Jeff Bridges
Zooey Deschanel
Jon Heder
James Woods
Music by Mychael Danna (music score)
Liza Richardson (music supervisor)
Editing by Ivan Bilancio
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Universal Pictures (Canada, Toronto)
Release date(s) Flag of Russia June 7, 2007
Flag of the United States June 8, 2007
Flag of Hong Kong August 2, 2007
Flag of Turkey August 3, 2007
Flag of Poland August 10, 2007
Flag of the United Kingdom August 10, 2007
Flag of the PhilippinesAugust 15, 2007
Flag of Australia September 13, 2007
Flag of Tasmania September 6th 2007

Flag of Germany September 27, 2007
Flag of Brazil October 26, 2007
Flag of Japan December 15, 2007
Flag of the United States October 9, 2007(DVD)
Running time 85 mins.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $85 million

Surf's Up is a American Academy Award-nominated computer-animated mockumentary film produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder among others.

It is Sony Pictures Animation's second film, the first being Open Season on September 29, 2006. The American premiere occurred on June 8. It is directed by Ash Brannon (the co-director of Toy Story 2) and Chris Buck (the director of Tarzan). Pre-production for Surf's Up began in 2002.

It is a parody of surfing documentaries, such as The Endless Summer and Riding Giants, with parts of the plot parodying North Shore. Real-life surfers Kelly Slater and Rob Machado have vignettes as their penguin surfer counterparts.