I was constantly impressed by the distinctive “camera” work in Surf's Up. Of all the things that could make an animated movie special, this is by far the most unexpected. The documentary style is very unusual and distinctive but really fun.

The way the film is lit also adds to the live action, unscripted feeling of the movie. While the animation is by no means revolutionary, it has quality execution and attention to detail. I loved the scenes when the surfers are in the tube admiring the water. The water is so beautiful and realistic looking, I wanted to touch it. The style kept me pleasantly off guard from beginning to end.

In the theater there were several children, all under five years old. Only one of the children lost attention. (In all fairness, their parents couldn't be bothered to watch the movie because their conversation was so interesting; no wonder their kid couldn't pay attention.) The plot is very simple, easy to follow with a small collection of distinctive straight-forward characters.

Surf's Up had enough adult jokes to make the movie work for parents. Sometimes the jokes get very close to outright “xxx” adult, they do stay in the cloaked almost-innocent jokes. There is a scene in the movie where Tank, the evil penguin (kind of a non-sequiter, huh) makes out with is trophies and then promises to “polish” them later. The writers are careful to walk up to the line, occasionally threaten to stick their toe over but stay in bounds.

Surf's Up is not a must see for people without children but if your kid wants to see it, go. You won't be bored and neither will they.