Reviewed by Doug Cooper
Featuring Kelly Slater, May Borthwick, Gabe Davies, Richard Fitzgerald, Andy Hill, Drew Kampion, Rabbit Kekai, Chris Malloy, Dan Malloy | Narrated by Cillian Murphy
Written by Joel Conroy & Lauren Davies
Certification UK PG | Ireland G
Runtime 80 minutes
Directed by Joel Conroy
I've always found surfing a wonderful activity to witness. The way those people can bestride the large waves with such grace and aplomb has always been impressive to me. John Milius' 1978 drama Big Wednesday shows the sport in outstanding light. Yes, it's a cliched effort but those shots of the ocean and the remarkable skill of those on surfboards is stunning to look at - it's an almost religious experience watching those scenes on the big screen.
Unfortunately this new documentary about the history of the sport never takes off - it's remarkably dull and will probably send you to sleep. It opens and climaxes in Ireland where a group of intrepid sportsmen are determined to ride an almighty wave in dangerous weather conditions. It is also a history of the activity tracing its genesis with location stops in Hawaii and California. None of the talking heads are remotely interesting and the surfers themselves who are interviewed, though perfectly pleasant chaps, are bland and inarticulate.
What's most disappointing though is the photography. The surfing scenes never excite or fill one with awe, and the section in Ireland looks dull and colourless. Devoid of any gripping narrative this well intentioned documentary simply lies and dies there. A highly tedious experience that does the sport no favours. Don't bother.