Surf's Up

Ride the wave

“Cody’s this, Cody’s that, Cody’s this. Cody’s me bro. Let me be me… When is that gonna start?”

Cody being moody

Between annual rewatches, these iconic words come to mind on somewhat random days, offering a curious kind of comfort. Regardless of what age we are, the angsty teen within who is certain that no one understands them has their louder days.

As we grow older this pessimistic version of ourselves is proven right at times and wrong at others, receiving mixed signals from the world about the measure of their value. Affirmed one day and diminished the next, the inability of the external to make its mind up about us hints at the need for internal framing.

In this vein, Surf’s Up tells the story of Cody Maverick, a teenage penguin looking to be the next big surfer in all of Pen Gu. Surfing is his one true love, but more than anything, he desires to gain the approval of his peers who to put it plainly, don’t believe in him or his potential.

Over the course of the film, Cody’s inner narrative begins to shift as he meets his his childhood idol, Big Z and learns that he too, suffers from a fear of judgement. The very idea of an icon like Big Z experiencing self doubt, reflects the absurdity of his own fear. It proves to him that confidence is independent of praise and challenges the belief that getting to the top will deliver the fulfilment he is so desperately seeking.

Big Z saying something serious, maybe sad.

The Legend of Big Z is a picture perfect depiction of the fall from grace trope. A has been who became so by believing so. I think the most potent lesson we can draw from his story is that running away from failure is a sure way to actualize it. On the flip-side, his friendship with Cody reveals that valuing others inspires us to acknowledge our own value.

Then there’s Lani.

I have so much compassion for the Lani’s of this world. On the surface she’s just a genuine friend who puts the needs of those she cares about before her own. Her selflessness is an admirable quality. Yet we also come to see it as the driving force behind her insecurity. As someone who feels largely responsible for the success and happiness of her friends and family, their inevitable struggle is a result that bares personal consequence for her. She’s the kind of person who believes they are flawed because they can’t fix others. When Big Z doesn’t respond to her efforts to console and encourage, it teaches her that her efforts are in vain. In watching Big Z and Cody mature through the film, she comes to learn that her consistent presence in their lives was enough all along.

These characters and their supporting cast (most notably Tank and Chicken Joe) make up the backbone of a timeless classic that I encourage everyone to watch if they haven’t or revisit if it’s been a while.

That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Go watch Surfs Up. It’s good.