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Chasing Mavericks2012 | PG | 1.85:1
Like a surfer battling a particularly violent wave, “Chasing Mavericks” struggles to keep its head above water. Based on the life of Jay Moriarity, the picture has a strong biographical feel that keeps it compelling, backed by incredible surf footage and two engaged performances from stars Jonny Weston and Gerard Butler. However, the screenplay by Kario Salem doesn’t trust the purity of brotherhood and the natural challenges of the ocean to fill out the work, bringing in bullies and assorted melodrama to secure an emotional response that’s best earned free of overt manipulation. “Chasing Mavericks” is a gentle effort with modest thematic goals, and while it’s compellingly made, its spirit is diluted by dreadful formula. 
With his father out of the picture and his mother (Elisabeth Shue) struggling with alcoholism, Jay (Jonny Weston) retreats to the water to cool his head, developing his natural gift with surfing. Befriending neighbor Frosty (Gerard Butler), Jay hopes to convince the seasoned surfer to teach him how to survive enormous waves, located at a coastal hideaway known as the Mavericks. With a loving but tired wife (Abigail Spencer in a fine supporting turn) and two kids, Frosty is unsure about his life, taking on Jay as a way to focus his attention elsewhere. Demanding total submission of his soul, Frosty takes his student on a journey of endurance and intense introspection, challenging the boy as he deals with a crush on longtime friend Kim (Leven Rambin) and the erosion of his friendship with Blond (Devin Crittenden). Working his way to a date at the Mavericks, Jay comes to understand himself in a whole new light at the very moment he could perish under the weight of colossal waves. The directorial credit for “Chasing Mavericks” is shared by Curtis Hanson (who became ill late into production) and Michael Apted. With these two veterans calling the shots (commanders on such features as “L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys,” “Enigma,” and “Nell”), there’s a reason why the picture has a little more substance than the average waterlogged coming-of-age film. There’s texture to “Chasing Mavericks” that’s immensely pleasing, with sizable attention paid to the challenges of surfing monster waves, with intense training required to not just conquer the ocean, but survive it as well, finding Jay working diligently to hold his breath for four minutes -- the length of time Frosty believes is necessary to endure a trip underwater at the Mavericks. As much as the material pays attention to the woes of the teenage heart, it’s also an engrossing water sports endeavor, with a real reverence for those who take on impossible waves. 
Helping the surfing cause is cinematography by Oliver Euclid and Bill Pope, who deliver hypnotic footage of a turbulent ocean coughing up surfers left and right, while preserving the humdingers waves that make the Mavericks a legendary spot. “Chasing Mavericks” is an arresting feature, with a crisp, clean look that carries into domestic concerns, keeping colors and clarity in play. This being Jay’s story of ascension, the screenplay commits to scenes of growth and heartache, while developing a father-son camaraderie between the surfing brothers. Frosty comes to challenge Jay with orders to write contemplative essays and work on preserving a sense of personal responsibility, and a few of the movie’s best scenes are devoted to the strengthening of their relationship as it comes to be tested by tragic events. The severity of “Chasing Mavericks” doesn’t disrupt the picture, it’s the little false beats of humiliation introduced by a local bully (played blandly by Taylor Handley) that kill the morale of the effort. The asides are ridiculous and completely unnecessary to the story at hand, adding useless weight to Jay’s journey that’s already been provided through other aspects of his life. While time with Jay’s age group is needed to assess his maturation, it’s handled artificially by the production, souring the endeavor as the script keeps returning to the ridiculous distraction. 
Back in the water, “Chasing Mavericks” restores its tension, also paring down the picture to just Jay and Frosty, highlighting an endearing relationship built on mutual respect. The movie is best keeping on the two and the invested performances that bring them to life, watching the pair work out the Mavericks situation and their shared troubles at home. Unfortunately, the production doesn’t know when to quit, piling on the conflict to a point of exhaustion. It doesn’t destroy the viewing experience, but it’s enough of a comedown to lose interest in Jay’s quest to conquer the water. Starring: Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer, Leven Rambin, Taylor Handley, Jonny Weston Directors: Michael Apted, Curtis Hanson » See full cast & crew |
 
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