Not only beautiful to watch, but also occasionally inspirational.

| Original Score: B- | Sep 18, 2021

The surf footage is astounding, especially at the climax of the story's quest. But the story itself lacks juice. The movie seems designed purely as an inspirational monument to its young hero, and it comes across as hagiography.

| Jul 31, 2019

Riding 30-foot waves is testing your luck, regardless of your skill level. But watching the skillful manipulate the swells and currents is awe-inspiring. Chasing Mavericks is a beautiful picture about dedication in all aspects of life.

| Oct 22, 2018

This gentle father-son(ish) tale about an expert surfer and his teen apprentice is a rare 'family' movie that isn't preachy or insipid.

| Nov 5, 2013

Moribund.

| Jul 12, 2013

While the religious undertones are largely drowned out by the endless spumy slo-mo and board porn, there's only one way this current is flowing: towards church.

| Jul 7, 2013

Despite a number of exhilarating surfing sequences, the interesting true story of surf legend Jay Moriarty is transformed into another dull Hollywood biopic.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 5, 2013

It's a relatively hackneyed drama, unable to turn the real-life story of young surfer Jay Moriarity (Johnny Weston) into a silver screen sizzler.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 5, 2013

Like waves beating on a shore, the guff just keeps on coming.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 5, 2013

[It] just leaves some decent shots of rising swells, breaking waves and daredevil surfers to hold the attention for two hours.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 4, 2013

The script's a drowner, the acting's awash. Again and again Butler returns to the sea. He just about survives the buffeting.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 4, 2013

Butler and Weston forge a credible bond, with able on-shore support coming from Abigail Spencer as Frosty's saintly wife, Hunger Gamer Leven Rambin as Jay's sweetheart and, of course, yummy mummy Shue.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 4, 2013

By-the-numbers biopic with a lacklustre script and bland performances from both Weston and Butler, though it gets a boost from some exciting surfing sequences.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 4, 2013

[A] neap tide of mush.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 4, 2013

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 4, 2013

By the time it's over, you'll either be heading for the beach or vowing never to go in the water again.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 3, 2013

Board-paddlers may enjoy the surfing lessons, but when it's on dry land this is a beach to watch.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 1, 2013

Writer/director team Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted deliver a surprisingly tepid tale that becomes cheesier and cheesier the closer it gets to its predictable payoff.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 1, 2013

This drama, which succeeds when the characters are in the water, has little to offer when they are back on land.

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Jun 30, 2013

Despite Butler's considerable charm and undeniably buff appearance, Chasing Mavericks sinks in choppy water.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 6, 2013