It’s probably impossible to watch Soul Surfer without feeling inspired. Based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a competitive surfer who overcame the loss of her left arm in a shark attack at the age of 13, the film is strong enough to suck you in even if you’re not a fan of feel-good stories.
Having a talented cast helps. Stars include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘s AnnaSophia Robb as Hamilton, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as her parents, and even country star Carrie Underwood making her film debut.
The cinematography is magnificent, with director Sean McNamara utilizing underwater cams and all sorts of amazing angles to shoot the action. In particular, watch for the competition scenes between Hamilton and her bitter rival, Malina Birch (Sonya Balmores). The beach vibe is always present and the visuals add a lot to the film. This is one movie worth seeing on the big screen.
Ultimately, it’s AnnaSophia Robb’s portrayal of Bethany Hamilton that makes the film work. The actress comes across as a very believable, confident surfer chick, but she does a good job handling the landlocked dramatic scenes as well.
Fueled by a solid cast, great visuals and an amazing story, Soul Surfer is an empowering film that does what it sets out to do: inspire. Don’t be surprised if you walk away from the film just a bit glassy-eyed.
Creative Loafing intern Tony Allen is a senior majoring in magazine journalism at the University of South Florida.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.
