Blue Crush
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, teen partying, language and a fight.
reviewed by Christopher Lyon
In a way, it’s been kind of a Hawaiian-surfing-grrrl-power summer. First we had the animated “Lilo & Stitch,” about a little Hawaiian girl being raised by her surfing teen sister. Then the “Powerpuff Girls” put their blond, black, and red-haired heads together to fight crime. Now in “Blue Crush,” a giggly blond, an intense brunette, and their surfing friend fight self-doubt and big waves as they struggle to raise one of their little siblings in Hawaii. Hmmm.
Okay, “Blue Crush” isn’t really like “Lilo & Stitch” or “Powerpuff Girls.” It’s not even really about that whole grrrl-power thing. And there are no aliens in sight. Instead, it’s a cool-looking surfing movie that loses steam every time its characters leave the water.
The Story
Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth) was a junior surfing champion. She gave up the sport after a wipeout nearly drowned her in the rough waves off the coast of Hawaii. But after receiving a special invitation to the big-time Pipe Masters surfing competition, she’s trying to overcome her fear and prove she’s the best on the beach.
Anne Marie lives in a beach shack with her two best friends and her younger sister. (Her mom left them on their own.) The trio of friends work in a local resort and spend all their free time surfing. As the competition draws closer, Anne Marie’s life starts coming unglued when she can’t get past her fear of the big waves and then falls for an NFL quarterback staying at the resort.
The Verdict
The best this about “Blue Crush” is the amazing camerawork of surfers in the ocean. Somehow, the filmmakers were able to get breathtaking surfing shots from in, under, above, and below the water. The action is very cool, especially when set to the surf-friendly soundtrack. The surfing part of the film could almost be one of those giant-screen IMAX movies.
The acting and writing aren’t terrible, but they don’t live up to the surfing images. Kate and her friends are believable as early 20-somethings. But the story doesn’t give them enough to do on the way to the inevitable climax of the movie.
The football players provide some fun comic relief—especially when they try surfing. But the relationship between Anne Marie and the quarterback felt kind of creepy to me from the start—especially when he hires her to give him surfing lessons, then ends up seducing her right after paying her off. Even after Anne Marie finds out he’s got a girl in every port with no plans to continue their relationship, the movie still tries to make him a heroic good guy.
Overall, “Blue Crush” isn’t very satisfying. I would have loved to play back all the surfing scenes, fast-forwarding through the rest of the story.
In addition, there’s lots of skin on parade here. That might make sense, given this is a movie about beaches and surfing. But the film makes a point of lingering especially on the three girls as they casually remove clothing, walk around in their underwear/swimsuits, and get naked (without showing the essentials). It’s a move designed to keep every male eye focused on the screen.
The rating comes from the lack of clothing, pre-sex scenes, a little violence, and some language.
Worldview
The main conflict in “Blue Crush” is Anne Marie’s fight to overcome her fear of being hurt (or even killed) by tackling the big waves. She realizes her main battle isn’t against the waves or even her opponents in the surfing competition. She’s fighting the fear in her own mind.
As Christians, we face a similar fear. God asks us to take risks. To do the impossible. Based only on our faith in Him, He tells us to forgive those who have hurt us. To risk looking foolish by standing for what we believe and telling others about Him. To risk getting hurt by giving away love with no strings attached.
You might remember that Jesus’ disciple Peter did a little surfing. When he saw Jesus walking on top of the waves of the Sea of Galilee, Peter asked Jesus if he could come to Him. He did fine until he stopped looking at Jesus and started looking at what he was actually doing. That’s when he started going under. (Check out the whole story in Matthew 14:22-36).
So for Christians, what’s the answer to overcoming our fear of the big waves and living the way God wants us to? We’ve got to keep looking at Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-3) Because He was able to overcome, He can get us through even the nastiest surf.
Like his amazed disciples said after Jesus commanded a storm to shut up (and it did): “Even the winds and waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27)
Discussion Questions
• Have you ever been surfing? If so, how was it? If not, do you want to try it?
• Do you think the quarterback will ever call Anne Marie again? Why or why not?
• Do you have a friend in your life—like Anne Marie’s—who will push you to be the best you can be?
• Are as passionate about anything as the people in this movie were about surfing?
• What fears keep you from doing what you might be meant to do?
• How do you overcome fear? Does your relationship with God ever help you with that?
Let us know what you thought of this review!
