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Bethany (Anna Sophia Robb) begins the story as a young surfer aiming to win local competitions against her rival, Malina Birch (Sonya Balmores). The plot starts out slow as it introduces Bethany’s family, who regularly attend Church together and who love to spend time riding the waves. Along with her two brothers, the family includes Bethany’s mother Cheri (Helen Hunt) and her father Tom (Dennis Quaid). After a few surfing scenes that feel like false alarms for what’s to come, Bethany is attacked by a shark while out surfing with her friends. The shark bites off one of her arms and leaves her questioning her surfing career.

The scenes surrounding the shark attack are some of the weakest scenes in the story. Before the attack, the surfing scenes are directed in anticipation of the big attack. Like in “Jaws,”  there are several shots of Bethany surfing while something seemingly lurks underneath the water. These seem out of place in a story that should be more focused on Bethany’s recovery, not on the attack itself. When the shark finally attacks, it’s anti-climactic. The story continues to stumble right after the attack. The director doesn’t seem to know where the camera should be and has it bouncing around and then cutting to close-ups of the actors as they bring Bethany to safety. After that, the camera thankfully slows down and lets the story unfold. 

In the attack, Bethany loses 60% of her blood and her arm is completely gone. Her survival itself leads the local doctor (Craig T. Nelson) to call her “a living miracle.” Even with one arm, Bethany can’t wait to return to a surf board. However, her enthusiasm turns to pessimism when she struggles during a competition. Carrie Underwood (in her film debut) appears as Bethany’s friend Sarah and tries to help Bethany understand God’s plan for her. 

The scenes after the recovery are where the story excels with both its plot and message. Unbeknownst to Bethany, many people have heard about her plight and are inspired by her story. Bethany seems genuinely surprised when she receives hundreds of letters from people applauding her determination. 

Bethany’s story is a truly inspiring one to build a movie around. Stories like this work best when audiences don’t feel overwhelmed by the message and “Soul Surfer” never feels preachy although it has a clear and undeniable message about not giving up and faith.  

Aside from the scenes surrounding the shark attack and a competition scene towards the end, I think director Sean McNamara does a solid job with the material. It’s well-told and well-acted with a solid supporting cast including Academy Award winner Hunt, whose presence in films is always welcome. Robb also does a commendable job in the lead role as a regular surfer who eventually becomes something more.

“Soul Surfer” is not to be missed by families who are looking for some solid entertainment.

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There’s nothing at all in the trailer to indicate the faith elements that are obviously a very big part of the true story of Bethany Hamilton — a young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and through the love of her parents, her Christian faith, and an incredible amount of determination, miraculously returned to tournament surfing. Instead, the marketing’s aimed directly at teens and positioned as a coming of age/overcoming obstacles/feel good film. Nothing wrong with that. As long as the film itself is true to the faith elements (from what I’ve read, it is), this is probably a wise move. People already aware of the story will show up, so why categorize your product as a “Christian film” if it’s so much more?

This is how it used to be, anyway, before Hollywood grew so openly hostile to Christianity. Hollywood always uses “reflecting reality” as an excuse for its coarseness, but won’t do so to reflect the reality of how the Christian faith is a central component in the lives of most Americans. Our faith is as natural a part of who we are as our work and family and secular lives, so there’s no reason to, for lack of a better term, “ghetto-ize” this kind of story as Christian.

In the real world, this is a universal story, no?

I do hope atheists have some sort of Sucker Punch Squad in effect. Hate to see the look on their heathen faces after walking out of a movie the marketing promised would feature underage girls in bikinis.

Here’s part of an interview Hamilton (who seems very pleased with the film) did with Christianity Today:

CT: What did you think of the movie?

BH: I thought it turned out really good. The story is true to my family and me. My family and I all took part in making the film from the very beginning till the very end. We had a lot of say in the script and day to day on the set. We’re all very proud of it and excited to share it.

What parts did you feel like they got just perfect?

I thought the shark attack was really well done. It’s exactly how it really was. It started off a very happy, fun day, perfect weather. And then it happened real quick. …

What do you want people to take away from watching this film?

If they’re going through a hard time, it would be cool for them to be able to relate to our family and know that there is hope in life, especially if you have Jesus Christ in your life. You can overcome these horrible circumstances and turn it into something good. And I just hope they can just enjoy the surfing, because it’s so fun to watch!

A lot of people are already familiar with your story. Is there something the movie brings to the table that maybe hasn’t been presented before?

Mainly the surfing. You don’t get to see that really in my book [also titled Soul Surfer]. You just see a couple of pictures, but you don’t get to see what actually goes down in the water, watching the physical struggle of living with one arm. So the movie is more of a whole pie rather than just a piece of the pie.

Much more here.

“I have always been interested in what I call actor-speak – and when I say “interested”, I mean “intrigued in the way you might be by a man talking to himself, without having any desire to go over and engage him in conversation”. However, while I continue to march past muttering men on park benches, I am, thanks to my job, an unwitting expert on actor-speak, having spent many hours of my life listening to actors bang on about their “love of the craft” and “the thing about [insert name of director] – he takes you on an emotional journey”.

“Some may call this argument prejudicial, but those who do have never spent a morning with Helen Hunt, listening to her expound on her skills. This has nothing to do with lack of respect for actors; just a lack of respect for the language they learn – perhaps at acting school – to describe what they do.

“The New Yorker event sounded promising: its panel of pleasing scene-stealers included John Turturro and Joan Cusack. But when – just 10 minutes in – panel member and actor Richard Kind (you’ll know him, look him up), said actors do theatre “to nourish themselves”, I knew I’d made a grave tactical error. The verb “nourish” should only be used in a culinary context, and even then with restraint.

“And, lo, they kept a-coming: there was “our craft” and “the journey one goes on”. To finish, actor Christine Baranski announced that “acting is like creating life”. Considering this comment came straight after the clip showing her in the sitcom Cybill, that seemed a pretty awesome claim. Shrieking onset at Cybill Shepherd v being God –I guess it’s six of one, half-dozen of the other. …

The day after I learned that being an actor was like being God, the God-like Sienna Miller was interviewed in the New York Times about her forthcoming Broadway role and, bless her, she seemed to have swallowed a dictionary of actor-speak on the flight from London: “I just try to put myself emotionally in a very dark place. After that, I trust a lot in the writing.” In other words, she pretends to be the character and then she recites the script.

Read the full piece here.