| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this movie has strong language and a lot of vulgarity for a PG-13. We see a mess in a toilet bowl and a used condom. Ann Marie is a poor guardian for her 14-year-old sister. She chases after her sister when she sneaks out to go to a raucous party and worries about her smoking and ditching school, but makes very little effort to set an example or impose limits. Parents of younger kids who want to see a movie about two sisters in Hawaii who go surfing should take them to see Lilo and Stitch,
Set in Hawaii, BLUE CRUSH centers on Ann Marie (Kate Bosworth), a cute tough-on-the-outside-but-vulnerable-on-the-inside surfer girl who has what it takes to be world-class if she can just (1) get over the fear she has had since almost drowning, (2) manage to train for her big chance while supporting herself and her younger sister, and (3) not get distracted by Prince Charming, a cute quarterback named Matt. Pals played by Michele Rodriguez and real-life surfer Sanoe Lake provide support.
Blue Crush is one of those eye-of-the-tiger, Flashdance on a surfboard, will she believe in herself enough to follow her dream sagas with no special insight or freshness – it's a dreary attempt at story, acting, and dialogue. But oh, the visuals! Hawaii's glorious natural resources, including many very pretty girls in tiny bikinis, are lovingly photographed. The surfing scenes are breathtaking and the water is the most vivid and memorable character in the movie, but some may find the MTV-style camera tricks annoying.
The three actresses have a nice, easy camaraderie and it is easy to believe that they have lived together forever with a mixture of familial bickering and unquestioned loyalty and understanding. On the other hand, amidst the female empowerment there are some issues that make the characters less than ideal role models. Ann Marie accepts a lot of money ($1000 for "surfing lessons") and expensive gifts from the quarterback, and has sex with him after knowing him for a couple of days.
Families can talk about the obstacles Ann Marie must overcome – not just the finding a way to support herself and doing all the training but overcoming her fears of failing and of succeeding. Some viewers may conclude that her attraction to Matt was in part a way to give herself an excuse not to do her best in the competition. Families might also want to talk about the way that the Hawaiian natives feel about the tourists (one tells a tourist to leave the beach he likes to surf, saying "We grew here; you flew here").
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | John Stockwell |
| Cast: | Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 16, 2002 |
| DVD release date: | January 14, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | language, drug references, and sexual situations |