When young Jay Moriarity discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it.
The result is a frustratingly inert piece of cinema; the story may be remarkable, but the telling is deeply conventional, and despite Butler’s considerable charm and undeniably buff appearance, Chasing Mavericks sinks in choppy water.
Board-paddlers may enjoy the surfing lessons, but when it’s on dry land this is a beach to watch.
Writer/director team Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted deliver a surprisingly tepid tale that becomes cheesier and cheesier the closer it gets to its predictable payoff.
Leaves some decent shots of rising swells, breaking waves and daredevil surfers to hold the attention for two hours.
The script's a drowner, the acting's awash. Again and again Butler returns to the sea. He just about survives the buffeting.
This ends up being another film about pushing one’s limits that resolutely fails to push any of its own.
"If Jesus were a surfer" seems to have been the pitch for this fabulously earnest real-life tale of a cherubic Santa Cruz wave-rider called Jay.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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