Blue Crush (PG-13, 2002)

The main role model in this story is a young adult, surfergirl, dropout who is struggling to raise her kid sister and instill values that she isn't exactly living out. Through this story the girls mature and grow together, building a positive relationships and overcoming fears. Questionable moments in this flick: The young sister does make some poor decisions and is found smoking and drinking and partying. The older sister and friends are housecleaning and find condums in one of the hotel rooms and quit their jobs over the issue.

and I was mildly disturbed (Penny's various issues and her older sister/guardian Anne Marie's lack of control over her), but in retrospect, this film is not disturbing. This is appropriate for mature children around age 11/12+, in my opinion. The only issue of commercialism that I recognize is Anne Marie's sponsorships by the surf company Blillabong. However, several of my friends are sponsored by various companies and this does not bother me personally in the least.

Blue Crush is a very good movie. Sure, we all know this storyline has been reused in many different films (minus the surfing), but in this flick all of the sappy, where-have-I-seen-this-one-beforeness has been drained out. Despite the fact that the main character works as a maid in a hotel and finds a condom on the floor, finds her sister out partying with people twice her age, and is showed just about to have sex almost three times (with the same guy though, not any hookups), it is a good movie and all of the things above aren't played out very dramatically. I think Anne Marie could be descibed as a hero in some circumstances, and she even inspired me to give surfing a try!