#TANK EVANS SURFS UP HOW TO#

As for pop references, a few emerge that deal with surfing (pro-surfers Kelly Slater and Rob Machado appear as penguin versions of themselves), but otherwise, the film remains fairly timeless. Its worst offense in crassness is a scene where one character pees on another to rid an infection, but this is done quickly and with more taste than expected. Something that stemmed from that DreamWorks film was abundance in both low-brow humor and pop culture references that don't predate the film in question by more than 18 months. While Surf's Up never approaches the quality of those two films, it's head and shoulders above what most other CGI studios have been offering the past few years.Īfter the winning CGI pioneer Toy Story, a plethora of computer-animated buddy comedies flooded the market, most famously, Shrek. This comes as no surprise when one sees who directed this: Ash Brannon, the co-director of Pixar's Toy Story 2, and Chris Buck, co-director of Disney's Tarzan. Surf's Up, on the other hand, manages to feel fresh despite the routine story. Nearly every aspect of that film felt borrowed from much better recent films.

#TANK EVANS SURFS UP HOW TO#

Sony Pictures Animation's previous effort, Open Season (2006), was essentially a lesson in how to be derivative. In Surf's Up, these often clever and entertaining scenes prove to be the highlight. Whenever there's a risk of getting too comfortable, the film cuts away to a one-on-one interview with a supporting character, similar to a device used on television's 'The Office' and, long before those series, This is Spinal Tap. Part of this is helped by the mockumentary style implemented.

Surprisingly, Surf's Up manages to avoid most of the clichés and pitfalls that come with such well-tread territory. The story of a former champ trying to pass the baton to a snarky and conceited young prodigy has been done many times. After his mysterious past is revealed, the Geek offers to train Cody, but the two consistently butt heads as the event draws near. Upon being humiliated by nine-time champion Tank Evans (Diedrich Bader), Cody becomes more determined than ever to win the Championship. He meets a wide variety of personalities at the competition, including the airy and laid-back surfer Chicken Joe (Jon Heder), the outgoing and adventurous lifeguard Lani Aliikai (Zooey Deschanel), and the quirky, off-beat recluse known as the Geek (Jeff Bridges). Despite being frowned upon by his family and other members of his community, Cody manages to become a contestant. Surf's Up is presented as a documentary following Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) and his aspirations to compete in the Penguin World Surfing Championship. At first glance, the project reeked of something trying to earn easy cash based off tried-and-true subjects and mediums. Not only was there yet another CGI comedy hitting theaters, but its primary cast was made up of penguins. When promotion began for Surf's Up, the general consensus was one of groans. The craze has simmered down slightly, with the 2007 tally expected to reach just eight by year's end, but it still seems like the public has grown weary of so many releases.Īt the same time, penguins seemed to be taking over the screen too, via the well-attended and Oscar-winning March of the Penguins and Happy Feet. In 2006, the number rose to a whopping 12. At the turn of the millennium, there were about three CG-animated films in theaters a year, at most. Ranjo (Smudge)Ĭomputer-animated films have reached a boom in the past few years. Theatrical Release: J/ Running Time: 85 Minutes / Rating: PGĬast: Shia LaBeouf (Cody Maverick), Jeff Bridges (Big Z/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), Sal Masekela (SPEN Announcer), Brian Posehn (Glen Maverick), Dana Belben (Edna Maverick), Reed Buck (Arnold), Reese Elowe (Kate), Jack P.

Tank evans surfs up