Perusing internet lists of the best surfing films, I see “Blue Crush” (2002) is totally ignored by some and ranked highly by others. That sounds about right. For a serious surfer, this is a silly teen rom-dram that happens to have a surfing backdrop. For folks whose surfing knowledge comes from entertainment the way their boxing smarts come from “Rocky,” “Blue Crush” is the mainstream entry among surf films.
A young person’s world
The coming-of-age story is typical of the early Aughts: Anne Marie Chadwick (Kate Bosworth) works as a maid along with her two best friends, dreams of (and has nightmares about) surfing, and raises kid sister Penny (Mika Boorem) in flailing fashion. Parents — or even parental figures — are not present on this island. A throwaway line tells us Mrs. Chadwick left her daughters to pursue a guy to Vegas.
Anne Marie has a wealth of young-adult struggles to keep the 104-minute movie engaging. But more importantly, there’s enough Hawaii flavor in writer-director John Stockwell’s film to give it a rich sense of place. A viewer can feel the heat, taste the salt … and smell the swamp-ass. Characters make multiple references to armpits.
“Blue Crush” (2002)
Director: John Stockwell
Writers: John Stockwell (screenplay), Lizzy Weiss (story), Susan Orlean (magazine article Surf Girls of Maui)
Stars: Kate Bosworth, Matthew Davis, Michelle Rodriguez
“Blue Crush” is notably less glossy than the later (and better overall) “Soul Surfer,” despite that film being a biopic.
Bosworth, Sanoe Lake (a surfer-turned-actress who weirdly doesn’t surf much in the film) and Michelle Rodriguez (already known for the boxing flick “Girlfight”) are easy on the eyes. Yet the outdoor lifestyle does a number on these gals.
Although her appeal to NFL Pro Bowler Matt (Matthew Davis) is clear, Bosworth’s Anne Marie looks sweaty and sunburned as often as she looks gorgeous and glowing. In her first major role, Bosworth is a perfect Everygirl, even though her eventual spot on Maxim hot lists would be no surprise.
Respectable fakery
Although the three young women – who all work as maids — complain about the football players’ disgusting hotel room (with good reason), they themselves don’t keep the tidiest house. In the opening sequence, they spring out of bed before dawn, throw on swimsuits and peel out to the beach. If they do clean their place, I imagine they do it as quickly as they blast through a hotel-room checklist.
While Bosworth looks like a surfer, “Blue Crush” doesn’t capture many convincing shots of her surfing. The fakery is respectable, as Stockwell avoids the stuntwoman’s face on close-ups or relies on the vagueness of far-off action. A few notably bad shots aim to show Anne Marie riding through the pipe; note how much cleaner these shots look in 2011’s “Soul Surfer.”
Still, surfing ultimately surpasses romance as “Blue Crush’s” primary color. The huge swells in the climactic competition – combined with gasps from beachgoers — will leave your mouth as dry as Anne Marie’s.
I don’t think Stockwell (who helmed the superior “Crazy/Beautiful” one year prior) intended this, but Anne Marie’s journey plays like a conflict between her career dream and her experience of first love. The dual interests compete for time, and romance initially is winning.
A swell conclusion
The screenplay says Anne Marie thinks of marriage to nice-but-bland quarterback Matt. But what we see on screen is a February fling – one she’ll always remember, sure, but there’s little depth to the bond. Bosworth was a teenager at the time (Davis is five years older), and Anne Marie – although well-meaning – is nowhere near earning a passing grade in Life 101.
In fact, it’s implied that the three girls graduated from high school because they chose class over surfing enough mornings – but it was a close call. Now Penny is skirting the edge.
But those breakers are intense enough to wash away Anne Marie’s other problems for the climactic surf event. Even though Matt gives our heroine a rah-rah speech about how she’s strong enough to do this herself, Anne Marie needs the help of a competitor (real-world surfer Keala Kennelly) to catch one huge swell rather than scoring a zero.
The film’s wishy-washy commitment to its various threads doesn’t hurt it all that much. Stockwell’s movie is breezily cool, with a soundtrack centering on P.O.D.’s “Youth of the Nation.” I’m left with the sweatiness and saltiness of Hawaii surf culture, especially among young people equally starry eyed about surfing and catching someone’s eye at a party.
“Blue Crush” isn’t a perfect 10. But in 2002, it was the teen-drama surf film, and 20 years later it still stays on its board.