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Inspirational sports dramas come in all shapes and sizes—from big-budget award hopefuls to indie films that face as many challenges as the underdogs they depict. But no matter whether the subjects of these amazing true stories are homeless football players, struggling horse breeders, or teenage surfers—whether their settings are the suburbs, the inner city, or the beautiful beaches of Hawaii—these typically melodramatic and even manipulative dramas still never fail to leave audiences inspired and teary-eyed. And although Soul Surfer isn’t as dramatic as many of these inspirational sports stories, it’s a simple but uplifting little film.
Ever since she was very young, Hawaiian surfer girl Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) wanted nothing more than to go pro. And after taking first place in a major tournament, she thought that she was finally about to get her big break.
But then, while surfing with her best friend one morning, Bethany is attacked by a shark and loses her entire left arm. While her family struggles to stay strong and help her adjust to life with one arm, Bethany remains calmly determined to get back on her board and train for her next tournament. But when things don’t go the way she planned, she’s forced to take a step back and find a new perspective on her life.
Soul Surfer is surprisingly easy-going for an against-all-odds kind of drama—which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On one hand, the beautiful tropical setting—with its waves and palm trees and tanned, bleach-blonde, swimsuit-clad actors—gives it a casual feel. Despite the seriousness of Bethany’s story, the presence of so much sand and surf serves to mellow out much of the melodrama. That’s not to say that it doesn’t still have its melodramatic moments; it’s just that the soothing setting somehow makes it easier to stomach.
The story, meanwhile, is just as calm and composed as its Hawaiian setting. The shark attack scene—while relatively bloody—is shockingly calm. The characters act almost as if they were expecting it to happen. They don’t panic. They don’t seem shocked or terrified. They don’t even scream. And while that may make the scene easier for some viewers (especially the younger ones) to handle—and a character later comments about how Bethany’s composure actually saved her life, suggesting that it’s an accurate portrayal of what happened—it feels unrealistic (not to mention anticlimactic).
And that’s the case throughout the movie. Bethany’s family struggles to deal with her situation. They’re angry and sad, and they often cry or lash out when Bethany isn’t in the room. And that’s to be expected. Bethany, however, remains calm and upbeat and generally unemotional, maintaining an unbelievably positive outlook. Even when she breaks down—or starts to give up hope—her outbursts seem unnaturally mild.
Perhaps the real-life Bethany just has a naturally sunny personality—but it doesn’t make for a particularly thrilling movie. The character tends to brush off much of the conflict that comes her way—and although that makes her an inspirational character, it makes the story rather weak.
Still, although Soul Surfer isn’t an especially tense or thrilling drama, it’s an uplifting and inspirational film. You’ll still find yourself rooting for Bethany as she gets back in the water—and, when it’s all over, it’ll still leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s a simple (and rather unremarkable) drama—but, in the end, it’s still effective.
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