Replicates in visuals and narratives familiar surf films before it.

Rating: 5/10 (9 February 2004)

this is a movie based on the book, "surf girls from maui." i suppose it was a little too "girlie" for my liking. i mean, sure it was great to actually see girls given the opportunity to show off their surfing skills in a male-dominated sport, but the story just seemed a little too ridiculous to enjoy--that of a girl (bosworth) who's mother left, she cares for her younger, rambunctious sister and they live with their two surfer roommates. the whole focus is about what a talented surfer ann marie (bosworth) is, and she must absolutely win the famous pipeline world classic. but, then comes the love story as ann marie's goal is distracted by a visiting pro football player who treats her with lavish gifts and all that junk.
i must say that some of the film was alright...something of an updated surfing film for the new generation of movies. even the photography, wonderfully done in a fast paced, digital version, didn't provide all the "umpf" that i had hoped to get from the movie. and that is partly because the movie seemed to borrow on a lot of surf movies i'd already seen, including a montage sequence ripped right from the introduction to the endless summer 2 and a bit from my favorite, the north shore.
the movie was obviously trying to draw a lot on the females within the sport. i don't think that the film does a very good job of it, nor does it really show you the "having a good time" aspect of surfing and that whole idea of getting lost in surfing as something that non-surfers wouldn't understand. and i think it was all due to a very stupid love story.
doesn't anyone in movies these days fall in love with someone who isn't filthy rich or famous? i think i'll stick with the old soul surfing movies. they were a lot more fun.