The kind of three-dimensional, razor-sharp imagery we've normally come to expect from animated films on high-def just isn't here. That makes this 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer a tough one to judge, as large portions of the film look flat, desaturated, and full of fake splice marks and the like. The filmmakers follow suit stylistically, giving the movie's animation an intentionally "degraded" feel with simulated noise, grain, and other defects. 'Surf's Up' takes a rather novel approach for an animated movie, treating its surfing penguins as if they are the subject of a documentary. The story itself may be predictable and uninspired, but I've certainly seen worse than 'Surf's Up.' Cute, well-meaning and technically impressive, this one's not a classic on par with Pixar, but kids will love it and (if you set your own expectations accordingly) there's plenty here for adults, as well. And to its great credit, unlike so many other recent animated flicks, 'Surf's Up' never condescends to its kid audience. The movie is also filled with lots of genuinely clever one-liners, as well as some more sophisticated humor that it works equally well for adults and children. Cody, as voiced by LeBeouf, is a very likable, quirky hero, and really, how can you not root for a cute penguin on a surf board? I also liked Bridges' curmudgeonly ol' Geek, with the actor so vocally dexterous that he is as much a force to be reckoned with as the soundtrack's many pounding waves. That doesn't mean that 'Surf's Up' isn't enjoyable on its own terms. N'ever After'), but a clever narrative structure can't make up for a completely unoriginal story. That Cody's tale is told like documentary does give 'Surf's Up' a certain freshness (at least compared to some of the pretty bad CGI movies that have come out recently, such as ' The Ant Bully' Yes, the various water effects are astounding - even jaw-dropping - but all the special effects in the world don't mean much without a great story, and it is here where 'Surf's Up' offers little that is new. Personally, I could care less about computer graphics advancements. On another level, 'Surf's Up' is quite an ambitious technical achievement - the first film to marry a "live action camera" with a CGI world, emulating a documentary approach that makes it both retro and cutting-edge. We get the usual cute animals making wisecracks and dancing to the latest hits (in this case more alterna-rock leaning fare such as Green Day, etc.), while the story is typical sentimental mush about the value of family, and saying no to conformity to pursue your bliss. On one level, it is an obviously contrived and formulaic family flick. 'Surf's Up' is a film with a bit of a split personality. But it is The Geek (Jeff Bridges), an old washed-up pro-surfer, who may just show Cody that a true winner isn't always the one who comes in first. Over the course of his adventure, Cody makes some new friends, including surf nut Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) and the spirited lifeguard Lani (Zooey Deschanel). The son of one of the greatest surfers the penguin world has ever known, winning is everything to Cody. Presented as a mock-documentary, 'Surf's Up' tells the story of Cody (Shia LaBeouf), a young "Rockhopper" penguin making the journey from his home in Shiverpool, Antarctica, to take part in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off on the beach of Pen Gu Island. Now, with 'Surf's Up,' we have the latest penguin flick to hit the big screen, putting fin to surfboard for another animated adventure that doesn't skimp on the cute animals and big-time musical numbers. Of the Penguins' break box office records, while the all-CGI smash ' Happyįeet' charmed the pants off just about everyone with its legions of dancing, singing Sphenisciformes. In just the past couple of years, we've seen the award-winning documentary ' March Hollywood just can't seem to get enough penguin these days.
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