Conventional but winning true story surfing film "Chasing Mavericks"
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| Jonny Weston and Gerard Butler |
“Chasing Mavericks” is the winning new surfing film starring
Gerard Butler (“300”) and co-directed by Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted.
Though the fact-based film will appeal most to those who enjoy the sport and it
isn’t anything truly revelatory, it has enough heart and inspiration to
non-surfers as well. It’s the true story of noted California surfer Jay
Moriarity (newcomer Jonny Weston), who became interested in surfing at an early
age, with an absent father and a mother (played by Elisabeth Shue here) who
hasn’t quite grown up herself. His father figure and mentor Frosty Hesson (Butler)
takes him under his wing and teaches him how to surf huge, dangerous waves
called Mavericks. “Chasing Mavericks” is
an enjoyable family film from Walden Media, who generally produces these types
of flicks, but “Mavericks” has two decent directors in Hanson (“8 Mile”) and
Apted (“The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader”) who make the
conventional, predictable material appealing for those who don’t surf. Similar
to baseball films, the film uses the sport as a backdrop to teach lessons about
life, love and family, which is done here as well. Butler, who has made mostly second-rate
romantic comedies as of late, is well-used here as the gruff Frosty, who
teaches the wide-eyed, fresh-faced Moriarity (a likable Weston) a little about
life and surfing. For those familiar
with this story, it has a bittersweet ending, as Moriarity perished not surfing
dangerous waves but in an unfortunate diving accident in 2001 at the all-too
young age of 22. The serviceable but crowd-pleasing “Chasing Mavericks” may
have limited appeal, but its winning formula is worth checking it out, mainly
in dedication to Moriarity if nothing else.
Wes’s Grade: B-
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