blue crush (2002)

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At 104 minutes, Blue Crush puts the “endless” in the popular surf phrase “endless summer.” It certainly feels longer than any movie derived from a magazine article deserves to be (in this case, it’s author Susan Orlean’s 1998 Women’s Outdoor magazine piece “Surf Girls of Maui”). But the bloated undertaking especially disappoints because Crush positively flies out of the gate and entertains for a good 30 minutes before a huge wipeout.

Relative newcomer Kate Bosworth plays Anne Marie, unofficial leader of a trio of surfer chicks and the only one who’s tasted fame. Three years prior, she aced a teen championship and flirted with the pro circuit, but a head-on collision with the coral reef resulted in a near-death drowning incident that Anne Marie just can’t shake. Her reluctance to get back on the board threatens her final shot at the Pipeline Championship, and the sponsorships and recognition that come with the pro surfing tour.

Blue Crush works best as a travelogue for Oahu and the Hawaiian island’s fantastic surf. Director John Stockwell energizes routine long-board sequences with daredevil camera angles and a dynamic pop-rock soundtrack. The film’s never at a loss for sand, sun, or skin.

But once Crush aspires to be anything but a “beach & babes” bash, the entire production runs aground like a beached whale. Anne Marie enters an unlikely relationship with an out-of-town hunk (Matthew Davis), despite the fact that he’ s an NFL quarterback and she’s a headstrong housekeeper at a local resort. And one unconvincing subplot has Anne Marie juggling the welfare of her 14-year-old sister (their mother ran out on them years ago). Even Disney’s animated Lilo & Stitch, which featured Hawaiian sisters in a similar situation, was smart enough to realize that Social Services would be all over this case with a fine-tooth beach comb.

In an attempt to flush out Orlean’s original article, screenwriter Lizzy Weiss overlooks the inherent drama of a woman attempting to compete in a male-dominated sport and aims for implausible and tired clichés. Crush builds without logic, picking up and dropping plot points or character traits when it needs to manipulate emotions. The sunny disposition proposed by Crush gets blocked out, and the endless crashing wave sequences will likely leave you feeling waterlogged.

All I need is a bikini top and same tasty waves.

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Just a glimpse at the beautiful scenery in Universal's Blue CrushWhat you¿ll likely remember long after Blue Crush leaves the theaters is the absolutely stunning shots of surfing and the ocean. The production employed world-renowned and respected water camera operators Don King and Sonny Miller as well as Michael Stewart. These guys and Director John Stockwell managed to capture some supremely lush cinematic moments in the ocean, so much so that you¿ll probably want to pack up the Family Truckster and head to the shore just to dive in. There is one specific shot that is so unforgettable and warm that you¿ll be salivating for the DVD so you can watch it over and over again. With these images and some top-notch rumbling sound editing, you¿ve easily got some of the best surfing footage ever shot by motion-picture cameras.Another surprising aspect of the film is its sense of humor. OK, so we¿re not saving the world from terrorism. That in itself lightens things up considerably but newcomers Kate Bosworth and Sanoe Lake show they have plenty of competence in the humor department. One particular scene (and you¿ll know it) in the hotel room puts Sanoe Lake at the top of the list. Additionally, the chemistry between the three girls works quite well. It is a testament to the actors that they managed to pull off a believable relationship that is supposed to stretch back years. Mika Boorem also stretches into a more adult role as the misguided and rebellious Penny and pulls it off wonderfully. The interplay between Bosworth and Boorem is so spot-on that believing they are sisters is no big stretch.

The girls of Blue Crush and their smooth ride.

Despite an overall throwaway plot and a couple tired ol¿ wobbly cliches, Blue Crush should put all kinds of butts into the seats. You have your grrl power crowd, your fellas who just want to see some bikinis, your surf afficiandos looking for top-notch photography and surfing, and of course your usual summer popcorn-munching crowd just looking for a bit of escapism. For the most part, Blue Crush delivers on all fronts.