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Soul Surfer (Review)

Tags: Film, Inspiration, Review

by Marcella Purnama | Tuesday, 24 May 2011 | | (0) Comment Print

Based on a true story, Soul Surfer is about the life of teenager Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia

Robb), who loses her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcomes all odds to become

a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.

Raised by surfer parents (Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt). Bethany leads the idyllic, sun-

drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her

best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changes in a heartbeat.  On Halloween morning, Bethany is on a typical ocean outing when a 14-foot tiger shark

appears out of nowhere and attacks her.

As Bethany fights to recover and grapples with the physical and emotional scars, she is forced to confront a myriad of questions: Why did this happen? Why did she have to lose

everything? Will she ever feel the joy and power of riding the waves again?  And if she can’t be a surfer, then who is she?

From left to right, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb in Soul Surfer.

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The devastating 2004 tsunami in the Pacific Ocean unexpectedly gives Bethany a new

perspective. Traveling to Phuket, Thailand with her youth-group leader Sarah Hill (Carrie

Underwood), she learns to look beyond herself and discovers she can make a difference in

the lives of others. Filled with a new sense of hope and direction, she returns home with a

renewed resolve to conquer her own limitations and set an encouraging example for people

facing adversity.

At the National Championships, Bethany bravely faces off with her fiercest rival, Malina Birch

(Sonya Balmores), and takes her astonishing one-armed surfing technique to the limit. But as

the horn blows, and the suspenseful competition kicks off, Bethany is no longer thinking

about the challenges of her body.  Now, her surfing, her biggest dreams and her life have become about pushing her own physical limits to touch the souls of others.

Soul Surfer is infused with Christian values, as audiences witness Bethany’s faith and

perseverance to continue to surf despite her physical limitations. It comes across as “safe” and almost cliche, and you wish you could see more of the real-life struggles Bethany

Hamilton would have faced.

Bethany’s mean rival Malina and her dashing love interest are also fictitious additions to the

true story to tick off the boxes of your typical Hollywood movie.

Carrie Underwood stars as Sarah Hill in Soul Surfer.

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That said, the performances put up by the all-star cast are nothing short of excellent.

Robb plays Bethany well, portraying her faith and courage without descending to

melodrama. Dennis Quaid and Oscar winner Helen Hunt are convincing as Bethany’s stubborn, supportive dad and strict, loving mother, and country singer Carrie Underwood

has also done well in her debut performance as an actress.

But what audiences would appreciate most of all, is getting to meet the real Bethany Hamilton

and hear her story as the movie’s closing credit rolls.

Subtlety may be lacking in Soul Surfer, but it doesn’t take away the fact that the story is an

inspiring and powerful one.

Soul Surfer opens in cinemas May 26.

Supportive dad. Bethany gets back onto her feet after the devastating

injury with the support of her father.

The real Bethany Hamilton, on whom the story is based, and AnnaSophia Robb who plays her character in

Soul Surfer.

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