Soul Surfer Review
This is story about Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) a 13 year old girl who was born to surf. She was an amazing surfer, and enjoyed her wonderful life in Hawaii. Bethany was constantly participating in national surf competitions with her best friend; that was her greatest passion in life, until the day everything changed. In 2003 Bethany lost her arm by a shark attack while surfing. Her dreams were shattered, but with the help of family and friends, and her strong faith, Bethany persevered , and was determined to be back in the water again. This is a heartwarming, true story about a courageous girl who is an inspiration to all, as she handles life’s difficulties with faith and determination! A great movie for the whole family!
Rating: Four out of five popcorn buckets.
Release Date: August 2, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
This is one of my favorite movies of the year! I loved the religious element of the film. Even though Bethany went through a very difficult time, her faith kept her going; she ultimately knew that something good would come out of this; she completely trusted God’s plan for her. She knew that God would take care of her. This could spark some great parent/child conversations.
I also loved the family dynamics. Her dad, mom, and two brothers were very loving and supportive, which helped her through this difficult time. She became stronger and better as she fought to get back in the water.
While in Thailand on a mission trip, Bethany realized that she has not suffered as much as others in the world. With the help of her youth group leader, Sarah (Carrie Underwood), Bethany helped people in Thailand who had lost loved ones in a tsunami in 2004. Another great lesson for our kids!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Teens wear skimpy bikinis, and bare backed shirts as there on the beach in Hawaii.
- Teens innocently flirt with each other.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The shark attack was very scary, and may disturb some kids. We saw a large pool of blood from Bethany’s shoulder, it may be hard for kids to see.
- The surfing can get intense. There were shots of struggling surfers in the water.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- There was a little name-calling like, “psycho,” but no swear words.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
This movie is a life lesson for everyone. Millions of people all over the world have seen her interviews and witnessed her strong faith and courage. I read that in an interview Bethany said, “We never know what life brings. Maybe there are some rough times for you now or in the future. I think that if you seek God first and focus on Him, you’ll be able to endure those struggles and hardships.”
I highly recommend this movie for kids ages 10+. If your kids are sensitive, they may be scared by the shark scene and the disturbing subject matter. However with the strong message of faith, and trust in God, when your kids do see it, there will be some great parent/child discussions…there were in my house!
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