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SURF'S UP (HDNET MOVIES KIDSCENE)

Do you have a passion you believe in? I know I do and I love the way this movie inspires me to follow my passion. In the movie Surf's Up, Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) definitely has a passion for surfing. This movie is about a penguin that loves to surf and wants to enter a major surfing contest. His goal in life is to surf like his idol, Zeke Topango (Jeff Bridges) also known as Geek. Cody leaves home to enter the contest. However, no one believes in him. Even so, he trains with a mystery person and becomes a great surfer in the end. The plot of the story is for Cody to prove to his mother (Dana Belben) and brother Glen (Brian Posehn) as well as others that he is not a failure and that he will ride the top of a wave.

The most entertaining part of this movie is when Cody challenges Tank (Deidrich Bader), the nine year winner of the contest. Cody falls off his surfboard, into the ocean, steps on a sea urchin and almost drowns. The sea urchin tells his version of what happens which is hilarious. You have got to watch this movie to see how Cody is cured from the sea urchin's poison. Just be prepared to say "eeewwww!" My least favorite part is the narration and interviewing process. Between each scene there are interviews with the characters. They talk about how they feel and what is happening with Cody's quest to become a great surfer. Instead, it seems more like an interruption to the movie.

Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) does a great job. He is the funniest character in the movie. There is a scene where he thinks he is being served dinner by wild penguins, not knowing he is actually their dinner. The animation is also great. I love the surfboards in Antarctica that are made out of ice. They look crystal clear.

The moral of this story is to never give up and to believe in yourself even when nobody else does. I recommend this movie for ages 8 through 18. Both girls and boys will enjoy this movie as it is a fun family comedy.

I give this movie a 3 out of 5 dazzling stars!

Reviewed by KIDS FIRST! Critic Haley P.

Surf's Up is a hilarious comedy that will have you rolling on the floor laughing throughout the entire movie! This movie is so funny I can't remember a time when I wasn't laughing. Directors Chris Buck and Ash Brannon did an amazing job making this movie stand out from the thousands of other family comedies. Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) is a penguin surfer stuck in the boring town of Shiverpool, Antarctica. It is always Cody's dream to follow in the footsteps of his idol, surf champ Big Z. Just when it looks like Cody will spend the rest of his life sorting fish, a surfing scout comes to Shiverpool to see how much talent Cody actually has. With hard work, Cody gets a shot at surfing in the Big Z Memorial tournament. Cody meets Tank, a bully, and the island's best surfer, at the tournament. Cody decides to stand up to Tank and challenges him to a surf off. Unfortunately, the surf off doesn't end well for Cody. His luck begins to change when Cody stumbles across fellow surfers Geek and Lani. They quickly become Cody's friends and mentors. With their help, Cody learns the real reason for surfing and that competition has nothing to do with it.

There are many humorous scenes in this movie. One funny part is when we meet Ivan the sea urchin. Cody accidentally steps on Ivan during his surf off with Tank. Ivan lets Cody know just how unhappy he is about being stepped on. Another comedy scene is when Tank introduces his trophies and calls them his "ladies." Tank also gives his trophies names like Lea and Brianna. The voice talent did an amazing job in using their voices to add to the comedy. My favorite character in the film is Chicken Jo (Jon Heder). Cody meets Jo early in the movie and they become good friends. What makes his character stand out from the rest is his "go-with-the-flow" attitude. Jo is by far the funniest character in the movie! As a 13 year old, I could really relate to the message of this film which is, you don't have to win everything to be a winner.

I recommend Surf's Up for kids 7 to 14 and I give it 5 out of 5 shimmering stars! Surfs Up is airing all month on Kids Scene so please make sure you check it out.

Reviewed by KIDS FIRST! Critic Simone S., Age 13

This is a story about a penguin who is an independent thinker named Cody Maverick (Shia La Beouf) who wants to be a world famous surfer. His ideal is BIG Z (Jeff Bridges) who died in a surfing accident. There is a world class surf contest held each year in his honor. Cody dreams on being able to surf and win the big race.

His family doesn't understand him. His brother Glen wants him to be like all the other penguins and work at the fish company.

Fate comes along and Cody gets his wish. Are you ready for some big waves?

When we arrive on Pen Gu Island where the big competition takes place we are introduced to Chicken Joe (Jon Heder). Yes, that is right another Maverick but this one is a chicken. We also meet Lani Aliikia Zooey Deschanel) a beautiful life guard.

The waves on the island prove to be bigger and faster than the ones Cody is used to. After a bad fall, Lani takes Cody to a relative's hut so he can heel. He ends up learning many life lessons here and finds out who he really is. You'll have to watch the movie to see if he learned enough to win the competition and walk away with the big trophy.

My favorite character is Chicken Joe because he makes me laugh. My favorite scene is when he meets the native penguins on the island and thinks he is in a hot tub, being feed delicious fruits and vegetables.

Through a penguin's journey we learn a lot of great lessons: Life is meant to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest. You should follow and do what you are passionate about. Everyone is different and unique in their own way.

The animation in this movie is awesome. The waves and the ocean look life-like and made me want to surf myself. This movie is perfect to get you into the mood for spring and vacation planning. It will make you feel as if you are at the ocean. I recommend this movie for age six to 18 and give it 4 ½ twinkling stars. Younger ones will love the animation but might not understand the story line. Adults will also enjoy it since they have added a lot of humor to the movie. So grab a beach towel and settle in to enjoy Surf's Up.

Reviewed by Morgan Bertsch, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

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This story follows a teenage rock hopper penguin named Cody Maverick from his hometown of Shiverpool, Antarctica, where all of the other penguins think he's nothing but a surfing fool, to the "Big Z Memorial Surf Off" on Pen Gu Island. Young Cody is determined to win the most important competition in the world of penguin surfing in honor of "Big Z," a deceased surfing legend whom he has idolized since childhood. But the waves in Pen Gu are different than in Shiverpool, and the competition is steep. The current champ, egotistical Tank Evans, isn't just about to let this little penguin knock him from first place without a fight. When Cody wipes out and encounters Geek, a recluse aging former surfer, living in the jungle, he learns some important lessons about life and surfing, and even teaches Geek a thing or two. Starring the voice talent of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deschanel, Jon Heder and James Woods.