The best way that I could describe the movie Soul Surfer, now available at all Plano Blockbusters, would be Rocky on a surf board with spiritual overtones. Sounds weird, don’t it? But it works.
The movie describes a true event in which real life surfer Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) at the age of thirteen was attacked by a tiger shark which ripped her arm off (this is hard to watch). But the shark attack is just a very small part of this movie. Bethany, who was raised on the water in Hawaii, and who had aspirations on becoming a champion surfer, soon finds that there is more to life than surfing.
After going through a period of depression, she decides that she would like to get back on her board and hit the surf. With the support of her surfing parents Tom (Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt) she hits the surf and finds things aren’t going to be what they used to be. Relapsing into depression, she consults with a missionary leader of her church (Carrie Underwood), who takes Bethany with her to Thailand to help with the victims of the tsunami. Bethany experiences a spiritual revival when she sees what true misery is.
Upon returning from her trip, inspired by what she has seen, she returns to competitive surfing with a different attitude and actually wins some events. (I kept waiting for the Rocky music.)
At times the movie is a little cheesy, but it sends a great message. This is great family movie and I would suggest that it is must for the kids.
My rating: 4 out 5 shark attacks.