Parents' Guide to

Storm Surfers 3D

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Impressive "big wave" surf documentary is mainly for fans.

Movie NR 2013 95 minutes
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Those who see STORM SURFERS 3D in the theater will be treated to some innovative 3-D effects, including cameras taken directly underneath the giant curls of the humongous waves. But if seen on the small screen, Storm Surfers is really only for surf fans. It's ultimately too shallow and too integrated for newcomers. Rather than exploring the lives and souls of its heroes, the movie is content to bask in their coolness, which includes occasionally pestering each other about being too "girly" when things get rough.

The movie does spend a bit of time on Carroll's three daughters -- and a single shot on Clark-Jones' son -- but these efforts seem more for decoration than for discovery. Moreover, the movie uses an annoying TV reality show-style formula, inventing phony cliffhangers and artificially ramping up suspense. On the plus side, though, the beautiful, stirring surfing footage may be enough for most viewers.

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