Critically and commercially unsuccessful document on a sweet, hard-working, mature 16-year old kid, Jay (Jonny Weston), saving up his pizza-shop money--unless his rather shifty, struggling single mom (Elizabeth Shue) needs to borrow some--who learns to ride the massive waves of the mythic "Mavericks" from a surfing lifer, Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler, very good here). Jay dedicates himself to learning to surf difficult waves that can pound and drown you if you are unable to hold your breath and power through it all while under water. Frosty is reasonable but demanding, with Jay up to the task. This is really about determination and sheer guts, but, most of all, it is about the love of surfing and leaving your mark in this life. Because Jay is such a class act (as is Frosty, coming from a tough childhood without parental guidance and love due to their departure/absence from his life at an early age), and doesn't just surrender under the pressure (in fact, he perseveres), he achieves exactly what he sets out to do. Holding his breath, navigating the tides, and writing a thesis about the learning process of the surf, Jay makes strides but the challenges provide obstacles he will have to overcome. Jay is smitten with a hot, radiant blonde teen named Kim (Leven Rambin), popular in school while he just isn't. Eventually the two, friends since kids, will acknowledge their love for one another. Jay also has a drug-dealing pal named Blond (Devin Crittenden), the buddy responsible for teaching him how to surf (the two skateboard empty pools, too). Jay bonds with Frosty and Frosty's lovely family, including the missus, Brenda (Abigail Spencer). The story, based on real events, is all about the love and lifestyle built around surfing, stretching the limits and achieving your dreams. When Frosty suffers a devastating loss, Jay is his pillar of strength, paddling out to find the grieving mentor under an alcoholic duress. There are some smart-aleck verbal bullies always heckling Jay but cannot hold a candle to the kid when surfing the waves. The approach to the story is straight-forward and acted competently. Jay accomplished a lot in his mere 22 years on this earth (his life was cut short by a tragedy "free diving"), and those who knew him (for the most part; even the bullies and those in school that ignored him, eventually come to admire and respect him) were grateful to have been a part of that short life. Butler took a break from the usual brash, loud, boisterous, cocky, and galvanizing parts for this thoughtful, wise, reserved, and caring role as a father figure for a teenager who desperately needed one. Spencer, fashioned in hippie garb, with a soft voice and delicate approach to confronting/addressing issues (mostly regarding Jay) to her husband, is so captivatingly beautiful. Shue, who comes and goes in the film, mostly presented as irresponsible and unrefined, has a nice moment at the end when it is Jay's birthday, bestowing a gift to her son, while also paying him back borrowed money (thanks to a promotion; she also improves her life by taking responsibility for her actions) Weston has a cherubic quality to him, and his handling of people (even when bullies antagonize him) says a great deal about his character. Surfing, as you'd expect, is treated as an almost spiritual event, the ride of the waves the climax of the quest resulting from passionate labor and intense training.
Review of Chasing Mavericks
