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Soul Surfer (DVD)

by D.M. Bradley | December 19, 2011 14:44 | Edited December 19, 2011 14:46

"...it’s hard to trash this too passionately, and yet the uneasy, increasingly shrill pro-Christian messaging does get soggy quickly."

Drawn from fact and Bethany Hamilton's popular autobiography, this is intended as an inspirational drama and yet, despite strong playing and the best of intentions, it feels decidedly dubious at times, with severely heavy-duty religious themes virtually beating the viewer over the head into the second hour.

 

The Hawaii-residing Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) narrates her story of how she loved the water since she was a child and became a pro surfer in her teens, with help from supportive, huggy parents Tom and Cheri (Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt), and (here it comes) the grace of God. However, when a shark attack (scary stuff but compromised by a quick shot of a cheesy CGI great white) takes her left arm, everyone must learn to painfully adjust - and yet Bethany rejects the notion that she'll never surf again, says no to a prosthetic limb and strikes out to learn how ride the waves against the odds.

 

With excellent on-the-water cinematography and Robb and Hunt shining, it's hard to trash this too passionately, and yet the uneasy, increasingly shrill pro-Christian messaging does get soggy quickly.

 

Special features include deleted scenes, a making-of, featurettes, a 2007 doco which inspired the film, and the real Bethany Hamilton on professional surfing.