Soul Surfer

Everyone should be familiar with the story of 13 year old surfer Bethany Hamilton who had her arm bitten off by a shark and went on to become a top surfing competitor. It horrified and inspired people around the world. Director/Producer Sean McNamara adapted the Bethany Hamilton's biographical book with 12 other screenwriters.

Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) is in Hawaii living with her supportive parents Tom and Cheri Hamilton (Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt) and her two older brothers Noah and Timmy (Ross Thomas and Chris Brochu). Her dream with her best friend Alana Blanchard (Lorraine Nicholson) is to compete in surfing contests. They spend most of their time in the water even right before going to their outdoor church service. They are a handsome, blond, nuclear family unit all straight teeth and good intentions. After a good show at a competition both Bethany and Alana are offered to be sponsored by a major surfing company who want them to wear their clothing line and model their bikini's (because that's always appropriate for 13 year old young women). But one morning while surfing with Alana and her dad and brother a tiger shark bites off Bethany's arm just below the shoulder. Alana's father Holt (Kevin Sorbo) fashions a tourniquet ouf of the surfboard leash. Even though she lost about 60% of her blood, Bethany remains calm and focused. After recovering in seven days, the first thing she asks is when she can get back into the water. While everyone around her is feeling for her loss, Bethany tries to remain strong for them. She only breaks down with Rachel (Carrie Underwood) the missionary leader in her church. She decides to go with the church group to Thailand after the tsunami where she helps some young kids go back into the water.

Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt are very good as the parents dealing with how to encourage and support their daughter to overcome and endure. And they also still look good in swim suits. AnnaSophia looks too old and savvy to be 13 and is way shorter than the real Bethany who was more of a goofy awkward young teenager. Look for Craig T. Nelson as the family doctor. The photography is well done especially the surfing shots and the underwater sequences when Bethany is knocked about under the crashing waves. The film pacing and editing plays more like a Lifetime Channel movie and you can almost tell where the commercial breaks will be inserted. Most Christian based films are aimed at their target audiences while Soul Surfer is being marketed to the general public. Granted Christianity is an important element in Bethany's book But unsuspecting audiences of different faiths may find the heavy handed religious ploy annoying and getting in the way of the real message of the story of perseverance brings good fortune.
(Review by reesa)