Chasing Mavericks

Dir: Curtis Hanson, Michael Apted

2012

**

Chasing Mavericks is a biopic of a celebrated surfer called Jay Moriarity, who I'm afraid I knew nothing about before watching. After a little further research, I believe Moriarity's story to be rather touching, compelling and something to aspire to, you just wouldn't think it after watching the 2012 film of his life. The production had some issues, the original director Curtis Hanson feel ill within a few days of shooting after having heart surgery a few months before filming began, Michael Apted took over but it would be the last film Hanson would ever work on. Both directors were well suited to a film such as this but the film is unquestionably disjointed due to a conflict of direction styles. It must have been quite tough on the cast and crew also, especially on such a gruelling shoot. That said, Chasing Mavericks still looks amazing, the surf footage being as good as any I've seen in similarly themed movies, the real problem for me was the acting. Jay and his mentor Frosty Hesson were said to have been close but I never felt that watching actors Jonny Weston and Gerard Butler interact. The chemistry between the two just isn't there and it is a huge distraction. I have no idea what the story behind Jay's personal life was like but the bullying story-line was poorly handled and the romance between he and his childhood sweet-heart Kim (who he married in real life) was terribly unconvincing. Elisabeth Shue was cast as Jay's mother, she's an amazing actor, one of my favourites, but she was given absolutely nothing to do and barely ten lines in the whole film. Certain aspects of Jay's life were touched upon but never really explored, even though it was made clear that they were important in his development. Absolutely nothing about the film felt believable or true, I don't think Jonny Weston did a particularly great job in portraying Jay and Gerard Butler seemed somewhat uninspired for the duration of the story. The less said about his awful accent the better. The film is largely underwhelming, with only the final surf scene being suitably impressive. That said, it was the boats going over the maverick waves that was more exciting than the surfers themselves. Another thing that annoyed me was an early scene set in 1994 (the first scene said it was 1987, the scene in question said seven years later, making it 1994) where Jay is working in a Pizza restaurant. Everything appears like it is 1994 until 1997's Brimful of Asha comes on the radio. It is an unimportant mistake but you do have to wonder what other detail they might have got wrong. It's a pet hate of mine. It is a generally forgettable film and something of a poor tribute to a guy who has clearly been an inspiration to many.