The Film
"I just flew 23 hours in coach. I'm surfing!"
Because there were so many burning questions from the 2002 film Blue Crush, filmmakers went ahead and made Blue Crush 2. It took them nine years and an entirely new cast, but it's now available, as a direct-to-DVD (or in this case "Direct-to-Blu-ray") release.
The surf may stay the same, but this is a very different movie. Dana (Sasha Jackson) is still grieving the loss of her mom from when she was a wee tyke. To keep her memory alive, she up-and-leaves her dad, and heads to South Africa to recreate some of mom's surfing adventures and catch that one wave that would have made mom's life complete. There, she meets local surfer girl Pushy (Elizabeth Mathis) and a cast of other seaside characters, which includes bitchy Roxy babe Tara (Step Up 3's Sharni Vinson).
Other than that, it's really about beach babes and bikinis. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but Blue Crush 2 ruins the fantasy by trying to get all socially conscious on us. Also, there's just not enough surfing. Yeah, that's right.
Of course, all of that would be fine if the film had a character that you could latch onto. Blue Crush 2 doesn't burden itself with making the fringe characters familiar. Dana is the main focus here, and you'll most certainly find yourself hoping a giant wave will come along and shut her smarmy surfhole. At one point, Pushy dismisses Dana as a spoiled rich kid with little regard for the locals. Of course, the two BFFs make up and live to surf another day. However, she really had it right the first time. Endless summer? No, Blue Crush 2 is just an endless bummer.
The Picture
Hot, hot, hot. Universal has a scorcher on its hands with this 1.78:1 transfer. The sun-kissed hair, the South African landscapes, and those teeny bikinis all pop right off the screen. Detail could be better, but this is a low budget, direct-to-video movie. Besides, the beach action will be enough to keep you happy. Just know that once the sun goes down, so does the film's image. Night scenes are less impressive, mostly because they are chaotic.
The Sound
These beach bums know how to get a party started -- or at least a teen-centric film started. Blue Crush 2 uses practically every genre of music to get its message across. That music gives the DTS-HD Master Audio track a real workout for almost the entire movie. Bass plays a major part in both the music and the surfing action. Dialogue can be low in some spots, but the film makes good use of the soundfield, with the thunderous roar of the waves the most memorable portion of the movie.
The Extras
For a direct-to-DVD flick, Universal has included a nice selection of extras here. An alternate opening, deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and commentary are appreciated, but fairly standard fare. Other extras dissect scenes, the film's location, and the Roxy brand. "The Hunt for Waves" is the gem of the group, offering up almost 8 minutes of uninterrupted, silent surfing. This short may have more surfing than the actual movie, showing off the skills of the film's stunt doubles.
Final Thoughts
The original Blue Crush made a slight splash, thanks to a star-turning effort by Kate Bosworth. Blue Crush 2 is a little choppy, but at least the scenery is nice. Unless you must watch all things related to surfing or cute teens, you may want to pass on this one. Otherwise, hold your breath and ride it out, dude.
Product Details
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