Surfer, Dude (2008/Anchor Bay DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Film: C+

 

 

When you see Matthew McConaughey anymore, you automatically expect a dumb, broad comedy, usually with a bad attempt to add so-called romantic comedy to the mix.  Despite not being featured with any female lead in the photo cover, S.R. Binder’s Surfer, Dude (2008) is being sold the same way for commercial reasons, but the film has a very welcome darker side for a change and it is too bad the screenplay cannot follow through on it.

 

McConaughey plays an older, very talented surfer well known in surfing circles for his superior abilities, but he is not too rich from it and too laid back for his own good, with sex and drugs only aiding the apathy when he is not riding the waves.  But a new group of vultures are around the corner to exploit him with cyber waves, reality TV, videogames (they need him to recreate his talents in virtual reality, for instance) and pushing a younger Hispanic surfer to make it seem more like boxing than the actual sport.  He is not interested, but these goofs are going to push him to make money from him and exploit him to the best of their ability.

 

He sort of goes along with it not realizing what is going on completely, in part with the support of one of his best friends (Woody Harrelson) who is also a long-time surfer friend.  What could have been a smart, dark character study of the lead character, those leading this life and why it is such a beloved lifestyle, turns into a predictable romp of crass airheads and not enough humor, plus real situations that ultimate ring false.  Scott Glenn and a cameo by Willie Nelson don’t hurt, but the film never develops into anything we buy, than ends abruptly.  Too bad, because with more concentration, this could have been a great vehicle for Co-Producer McConaughey instead of yet another star turn.  Still, you could do worse.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot by Director of Photography Elliot Davis (Get On The Bus, Lords Of Dogtown, Soderbergh’s King of The Hill) comes up with a good look, though it can be color gutted and down-styled at times, plus this transfer is a bit softer than I would have liked.  Maybe the Blu-ray will look better.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has active surrounds, but the dialogue can be very boxy and that ruins a potentially good soundfield.  Extras include deleted scenes, original theatrical trailer, 12-Webisode series to promote the film, behind-the-scenes featurette and decent audio commentary by McConaughey.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo