Line #54 WesternAnimation/SurfsUp


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/onesheet_2.jpg]]
2
3	->''"It's gonna be great... Can I get in line to not see it?"''
4	-->-- '''Glen Maverick'''
5
6	''Surf's Up'' is a film by Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation. It takes on an interesting style: despite being set in a world of [[FunnyAnimal anthropomorphic talking animals]], the film [[{{Mockumentary}} parodies surfer documentaries]], complete with [[FalseCameraEffects handheld camera shots]] and [[ConfessionCam interviews with the cast]] spliced in various places. The plot tells of a young Rockhopper penguin named Cody Maverick, who dreams of moving to the tropics and becoming a legendary surfer, like his idol, Big Z.
7
8	A 2007 [[AllCGICartoon CGI animated film]], and the second one from Sony's animation division. It earned a surprising UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination, and was the only film from Sony Pictures Animation to do so until ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' over a decade later, which ultimately won the award.
9
10	In early 2016, Sony announced that they were partnering with Wrestling/{{WWE}} to produce a sequel, entitled ''WesternAnimation/SurfsUp2Wavemania'', that was released DirectToVideo on January 17, 2017, 10 years after the original film. The pitch is that Cody accompanies the Hang Five, a group of big wave riders (voiced by Wrestling/JohnCena, Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, Wrestling/{{Paige}} and Wrestling/VinceMcMahon), in their quest for "The Trenches", a legendary surf spot holding the biggest waves in the world.
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12	----
13	!!Tropes:
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15	* AffectionateParody: Of surfing documentaries, with a plot parodying the 1987 surf film ''North Shore''.
16	* AfraidOfBlood: Chicken Joe. Even stating the fact makes him feel faint.
17	* AlmostKiss: In the last two minutes, Cody and Lani were about to kiss when Arnold (who has a PrecociousCrush on Lani) interrupts them.
18	* AloofBigBrother: Glen for Cody.
19	* AlterKocker: The elderly penguins in Shiverpool speak using Yiddish accents and slang.
20	* AlwaysABiggerFish: [[spoiler:Big Z was so concerned with winning, when he realized he was going to lose, he faked his death.]]
21	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler:Angry that Zeke refuses to watch him compete, Cody demands to know why Zeke disappeared after he wiped out of the contest.]]
22	* ArtisticLicenseOrnithology: The most blatant example is when Geek pees on Cody to heal a burn - birds don't urinate (like reptiles, the excretory system's products are released on the feces). Of course, this is likely just RuleOfFunny.
23	* AscendedFanboy: Cody, who was a lifelong surfer and admirer of Big Z gets to compete in the memorial competition under the wing of [[spoiler:the penguin himself.]]
24	* AsHimself: Real life surfers Kelly Slater and Rob Machado appear as penguin versions of themselves.
25	* BadBoss: Reggie. Mikey is happy to get fired. [[spoiler:Big Z]] also tells him off at the end, telling him not everything is a promotion and to just plain shut up.
26	* BeleagueredAssistant: BadBoss Reggie's shorebird assistant Mikey, who's at his beck and call.
27	* BigGame: The Big Z Surf Open, which occurrs annually and is said to be the fiercest surfing competition on the planet, with penguins (and a chicken) all over the world competing in it.
28	* BirdsOfAFeather: Cody, Joe and Lani bond because they are all fatherless.
29	* BlownUpwardByABlowhole: While riding a whale to Pen Gu island, Chicken Joe entertains himself by stick his head over the blowhole to get sprayed, which gives him a brain freeze. After introducing himself to Cody, Joe is hit with the spray and blown upwards. ("Butt freeze!")
30	* BrokenAce: [[spoiler: Big Z / Big Geek, who realized he let his ego get the better of him when Tank showed up for the first time.]]
31	* BrokenPedestal: [[spoiler: Cody is none too pleased when Z admits he's a BrokenAce. Both get over it.]]
32	* BrutallyHonest: After Cody made a disastrous wipeout on his first try, Mikey whispers to him "You should've stayed in Antarctica, kid". He's the only one who feels Cody is out of his league from the start, and spends most of the contest worried about his safety.
33	* ButForMeItWasTuesday: That medallion Big Z gave Maverick? One of a mass-produced thousands he gave to every fan.
34	* ByWallThatIsHoley: At one point Cody and Joe knock over one of those cut-out figures you put your own face in; baby penguin Arnold is walking past and escapes being squashed by being in the exact place the hole for the face falls. What makes it funny is that he doesn't notice.
35	* CameraAbuse: The camera was busted by Pen Guans when the crew followed Chicken Joe in the forest. Not to mention numerous interferences between the characters and the cameraman.
36	* CannibalTribe: The Pen Guans. Thankfully, anything that TastesLikeChicken is a good replacement.
37	* CentralTheme: Winning isn't everything.
38	* CerebusRetcon: Cody's father being eaten is first PlayedForLaughs when it is revealed at the beginning of the film, but when Cody is arguing with [[spoiler:Big Z,]] he lets slip that he's actually pretty torn up about it. But said too much already, he immediately drops it.
39	* CharacterDevelopment: Like most people that appear on reality television, Cody is initially under the impression that he's the most fascinating person on earth. By the end of the movie, he tells the camera crew: "To be honest, I'm kind of bored of talking about myself."
40	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Chicken Joe, who spends most of the movie in his own world and missing the purposes of things happening around him.
41	* CompanionCube: Tank to his various surfing trophies. He refers to them by name and call them his "ladies".
42	-->'''Tank's Mom:''' Tank! Are you polishing your trophies again?!
43	* CoversAlwaysLie: A minor example, but Lani never wears a lei or a flower on her head in the movie.
44	* CrashIntoHello: Cody and Lani crash into one another when the first is ranting about Geek and the other is bringing Geek more clams.
45	* CreatorCameo: The voices of the never-seen documentary filmmakers are provided by the ''actual'' directors of the movie.
46	* CucumberFacial: Big Z makes Cody meditate with pineapple slices on his eyes as part of his surf training and as a joke to make Cody look ridiculous in front of the camera crew.
47	* CurseCutShort: In one scene, Tank takes a bite from a squid on a stick and says "Bleah, tastes like sh--" The DVD Commentary confirms that he did in fact say sh[[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope ellfish]]]].
48	* DarkHorseVictory: [[spoiler:Double-subverted; both Cody and Tank lose to Chicken Joe.]]
49	* DavidVersusGoliath: Cody, a skilled but uncompetitive surfer, vs. Tank, a 9-time defending champion.
50	* DisappearedDad: Both Cody and Chicken Joe never knew their fathers. Cody's dad was eaten by a killer whale, while Joe's was served as part of a six-piece meal.
51	* DisqualificationInducedVictory: [[spoiler:Joe, Cody, and Tank are the finalists in the Memorial, and Joe wins because Cody intervenes in Tank's attempt to push Joe off his board, and both Cody and Tank end up in the Boneyards, an off-limits area.]]
52	* DistinctionWithoutADifference: Tank doesn't consider himself a role model, but he does consider himself someone who people should look up to and try to emulate.
53	* DodgyToupee: Reggie's tall hairdo. Mikey yanks it off his head at the end of the movie.
54	* TheDogBitesBack: Mikey pulls off Reggie's wig. Reggie fires Mikey for it - a move that the latter appreciates.
55	-->"I never imagine a better day!"
56	* EruditeStoner: Chicken Joe, who never takes anything seriously and has fun bevause of it.
57	* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Tank. He's a jerk to everyone but his mother.
58	* EvilCounterpart: Tank lives with his mom like Cody. He and Big Z also looked similar [[spoiler:in Z's prime years.]]
59	* FalseCameraEffects: To give it a documentary feel, shots are made to look like they were made on handheld cameras, and during various points, the camera goes through some CameraAbuse.
60	* FastForwardGag: A time-lapse montage of Mikey setting up the beach for the Big Z Memorial contest is set to increasingly sped-up background music. At the end, Mikey says "I feel light-headed" to the camera in a high-pitched voice.
61	* FeatherFingers: Averted with the penguins who have flippers but played straight with Chicken Joe.
62	* {{Flashback}}: The film has several, done in the form of old film footage or photographs; they include the first time Cody met Big Z and [[spoiler:when Z faked his death]].
63	* TheFool: Chicken Joe, full stop. Dude had no clue that the Pen-Guans wanted to eat him, or even [[spoiler:that he won the surfing competition]].
64	* FunWithAcronyms: SPEN for the penguin version of ESPN.
65	* FunnyAnimal: The fun and goofy Chicken Joe.
66	* GeniusDitz: Chicken Joe, for all his airheadedness, turns out to be such a good surfer that [[spoiler:he doesn't even realize it when he wins the surf competition.]]
67	* HatedHometown: Cody. "Good-old Shiverpool. razz This place sucks, bro!"
68	* HeroicBSOD: Cody and [[spoiler: Big Z both get one after losing to Tank. Ironically it was Cody's that caused Big Z to take the first initiative towards helping them BOTH get back on the surfboard.]]
69	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Cody throws the final match by protecting Chicken Joe from Tank, causing Tank and Cody to wipe out. We then sees he's trapped in the Graveyard, struggling not to drown or get torn apart. Z saves him, comes out of hiding, and everyone praises Cody for risking his life for his best friend]].
70	* HesBack: [[spoiler: After faking his death and becoming a hermit, Z stopped surfing. However, while teaching Cody, he eventually gets back in the water, even going through the pipeline. Cody cheers, "Big Z is back!"]]
71	* HighHopesZeroTalent: Downplayed. Cody is by no means a "bad" surfer. However, he is lacking in both patience, discipline and understanding of what surfing means to some people. Once he finally understands that, [[TookALevelInBadass his surfing skills improve ten-fold]].
72	* HollywoodNatives: The Pen Guans, who try to cook Chicken Joe and occasionally attack the camera crew.
73	* HumanoidFemaleAnimal: Lani has a physique that's much more curvy and humanoid than most of the other penguins.
74	* ICallItVera: Tank named every single one of his trophies.
75	* TheIdolsBlessing: As a young child, Cody is greeted and quickly enamored by Big Z, inspiring him to learn the sport himself. Many years later, after losing his first competition, he [[spoiler: meets Big Z himself, who teaches him how to surf and helps him learn that [[SweetAndSourGrapes the real goal is just to have fun.]]]]
76	* IJustWantToBeNormal: [[spoiler:In the end, Big Z doesn't see himself as "the greatest surfer" or consider himself a legend anymore, he's just a guy who really loves surfing.]]
77	* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Cody. He desperately wants to win the surfing competition and become a legendary surfer like Big Z. [[spoiler: He fails at the competitom but its implied he succeeds in the long run.]]
78	* InUniverseCamera: As an animated mockumentary, the characters are followed by cameramen and occasionally are interviewed by the offscreen directors.
79	* IronicEcho: With a side order of TemptingFate: before his first contest with Tank, Cody brags that his performance will be so impressive, people will want to watch it "over and over and over and over again". Cue instant-replay footage of his embarassing wipeout.
80	* {{Jerkass}}: Tank, a mean Jock who cares about no one but himself, Reggie, a terrible cheapskate boss who mistreats his assistant, and Glen, Cody's lazy and dimwitted brother.
81	* JerkJock: Tank. Oh so much. He aims to knock kids off their surfboards, for one.
82	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: A lot of characters:
83	** Cody is impatient and short-tempered, caring only about becoming a surfing legend like Big Z. However, he does care for the friends he makes along the way, and learns some important lessons about surfing in the end that make him much more humble.
84	** Geek/[[spoiler: Ezekiel ‘Big Z’ Topanga]] is lazy and a bit grouchy, [[spoiler: but it's mostly due to his humiliating defeat by Tank.]] Underneath it all, he sees Cody's real potential and decides to teach him how to surf like a pro despite the fact he left that life behind him.
85	** Mikey is a bit snarky, but that's mostly because he has to work for Reggie and is constantly belittled by him. Underneath it all, Mikey worries about the surfer's safety as is actually a pretty sensitive birds.
86	* KeepAway: Two groups of penguin chicks throw the Big Z Memorial trophy to each other over Tank's head, until they botch a catch and shatter it.
87	* KickTheDog: Tank, on first appearance on-screen, kicks the surfing baby penguins.
88	* MeaningfulName: Cody's last name, Maverick, is another term for an outcast. Maverick's is also a major surf spot in Northern California.
89	* TheMentor: Geek coaches Cody and teaches him how to make his own surfboard.
90	* MirrorCharacter: [[spoiler:Big Z cared more about winning, as a result of the contests taking the fun out of surfing. Lani pointed out to Cody that he cared more about winning than her or Zeke.]]
91	* {{Mockumentary}}: Parodies surfing documentary films in plot, character archetypes, and look, except animated penguins are the main characters. The directors later stated that it was a mistake, because it made several scenes either impossible or just plain odd (like the private moments between Cody and Lani, and even TheReveal that [[spoiler:Big Z was alive]]). They said that FoundFootageFilms were big at the time, and they were basically following the leader.
92	* MomentKiller: The sad moment when Geek wanders around his old shack [[spoiler:from back when he was Big Z]] is interrupted by an excited MotorMouth Cody peppering him with questions.
93	* MusicalSlapstickMontage: To Mikey setting up the judges' cabin and bringing Reggie coconut drinks.
94	* NonMammalMammaries: Lani is notable for having a [[HumanoidFemaleAnimal far more feminine, curvaceous physique]] than the other female characters. It's no surprise that Cody has a huge crush on her.
95	* NonSequiturThud: After a major wipeout and sea urchin poisoning, Cody remarks on the "pixies everywhere" before passing out.
96	* OpposingSportsTeam: Cody's main rival Tank is a egoistical but skilled bully of a surfer.
97	* ParentalAbandonment:
98	** Cody and Joe's fathers were [[spoiler:eaten by a killer whale and fried for dinner, respectively,]] and Lani was apparently raised by her uncle, the Geek/[[spoiler:Big Z]].
99	** [[spoiler:After seeing Big Z as a quitter, Cody felt like he lost another father.]]
100	-->[[spoiler:'''Cody:''' It's bad enough to lose one dad...\
101	'''Interviewer:''' What do you mean by that?\
102	'''Cody:''' Nothing, just forget it.]]
103	* PolarPenguins: Zig-zagged. Cody Maverick lives in the Antarctic town of Shiverpool, but most of the movie takes place in tropical Pengu Island, which is also inhabited by penguins and holds an annual surfing competition. There are even native Penguans that act like HollywoodNatives. No one other than Cody and his family are even stated to be from Antarctica.
104	* ParentalFavoritism: Cody's mom at first favors his older brother, but after the contest seems to favor Cody, much to his brother's displeasure ("I really hope, that some day, you can be more like Cody." "...This interview's over.")
105	* PrecociousCrush: The young penguin, Arnold, has one on Lani, to the point where he routinely drowns himself, just so she can rescue him.
106	* ProneToTears: Mikey is the only one who was moved to tears by [[spoiler:Geek/Big Z's]] speech. When he's caught on camera, he averts the camera and begs them to please give him a minute.
107	* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: Cody tries to beat up Tank when he hits Chicken Joe, but Cody's punches are so weak that Tank takes it as a massage.
108	* PunnyName:
109	** Cody's hometown of [[Music/TheBeatles Shiverpool]].
110	*** Spanish and Brazilian-Portuguese dub: Frio de Janeiro (Cold of Janeiro).
111	*** Buenos Eisig (Buenos Icy) in Germany.
112	** The album of [[Film/LifeOfPi Mychael Danna]]'s music for the film is billed as the "Original Ocean Picture Score".
113	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
114	-->'''Cody:''' Yeah. I know. I can't even... I think I can win this thing. It's too much right now.\
115	'''Lani:''' Well, that's all you came for.\
116	'''Cody:''' What? What is that supposed to mean?\
117	'''Lani:''' You made it pretty clear last night that winning's more important to you than Z or me. But, hey, maybe you'll get to take your stupid trophy home.\
118	''[Lani walks away in disgust.]''\
119	'''Cody:''' Lani. Come on.\
120	''[Cody gets pulled in front of the camera by Reggie.]''
121	* TheReveal: [[spoiler:Geek/Zeke is revealed to be Cody's idol, Big Z, who faked his death many years ago.]]
122	* RealMenWearPink: You have to be very manly to hatch an egg to term.
123	* RepeatCut: Cody wiping out on his first wave at Pen Gu Island is repeated four times. It is shown after a shot of him talking about how [[TemptingFate you'll want to see that first ride over and over and over again]].
124	* RevoltingRescue: Cody accidentally steps on a sea urchin and [[AgonyOfTheFeet its spines are lodged into his foot]]. Big Z neutralizes the venom by urinating on Cody's foot. [[TheScream Cut to the outside of the house]] as Cody [[ScreamingAtSquick screams in horror]].
125	* RuleOfCool: Just about every unrealistic animal behavior. Or how dangerous the stunts are.
126	* SceneryPorn: Zooey Deschanel was sold after seeing test footage of the giant waves, and the finished product is spectacular too.
127	* SeaHurtchin: Cody accidentally steps on a sea urchin at one point, which leads to the "urinate on it" remedy. As a bonus, there is also an interview clip of the sea urchin disputing that he was merely stepped on, showing a broken spine.
128	* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: Subverted. [[spoiler:Big Z humorously calls Cody a "loser" because he didn't come in first, and Chicken Joe is shocked he won -- he was just having fun and it isn't clear he even knows he was in a contest.]] During the entire film, all of the interviewed characters say that loser is as loser does, regardless of whether they come in first or not -- save Tank of course.
129	-->[[spoiler:'''Cody:''' (''amused'') Well, I lost.]]\
130	[[spoiler:'''Big Z:''' (''amused'') Yeah. Me, too. Come on, loser.]]
131	* SecondPlaceIsForWinners: [[spoiler:Cody throws his chance to win-- and risks his life-- to save Chicken Joe from Tank. He considers it WorthIt, especially since Z comes out of hiding to save him in turn from the skeleton zone. Everyone saw him pull a HeroicSacrifice, solidifying his reputation as an honorable surfer]].
132	* ShoutOut:
133	** Cody says he [[WesternAnimation/HappyFeet doesn't sing or dance]].
134	** One of Tank's trophies is named Jeannie.
135	-->'''Tank:''' [[Series/IDreamOfJeannie I dream of her.]]
136	* ShownTheirWork: They consulted several experts (whose names are listed in the credits) to make sure the surfing information was accurate.
137	* SmallParentHugeChild: Cody's brother Glen Maverick is larger than both Cody ''and'' their mother Edna.
138	* SoProudOfYou: Geek gestures this to Cody after the comptition.
139	* StewedAlive: The oblivious Chicken Joe thinks the native Pen Guans are giving him a hot tub bath. Subverted when he unknowingly escapes.
140	* TheStinger: Glen kicks the interviewers out by throwing their equipment out the window and telling them to go back to Hollywood, much to the dismay of Edna after the credits.
141	* TheStoner: Chicken Joe. [[GRatedStoner The PG rating means he only acts like one, though.]]
142	* StumblingUponTheLostWizard: After Cody gets hurt surfing, lifeguard Nani takes her to her uncle Zeke, a reclusive hermit living in the jungle, to recuperate. Eventually, [[spoiler:Cody recognizes Zeke for who he really is--his childhood surfing idol Big Z, who [[FakingTheDead faked his own death]] to get away from the limelight.]]
143	* SuntanStencil: A penguin is seen sunbathing, his flipper resting on his belly. When he moves the flipper it leaves an outline on his sunburned underside.
144	* SurferDude: Everyone on Pen Gu Island, but Chicken Joe is the funny stereotype.
145	* SweetAndSourGrapes: [[spoiler:Turned inside-out; Big Z's [[BrokenAesop complaint]] was that surfing competitions took all of the fun out of the pastime. Chicken Joe, obviously just happy to be there and surf, takes the competition and the trophy. Cody, happily reunited with Z, is the sweet side. Tank, on the other hand, is sucking lemons.]]
146	* TastesLikeChicken: Squid on a Stick, which is basically IAmAHumanitarian where Chicken Joe is concerned. [[spoiler:It saves his life when he gives the food to chicken-eating natives.]]
147	* TastesLikeFriendship: Chicken Joe befriends the the Pen Guans by giving them squids on skewers. They decide it's a passable replacement to chicken.
148	* TotallyRadical: Chicken Joe says "dude" every other sentence, and Cody to some extent uses a 00's appropriation of the dialect with use of "bro" in place of "dude".
149	* TrainingMontage: Subverted, as [[spoiler: Big Z]] constantly {{Troll}}s Cody instead of actual training. The lesson? Have fun.
150	* TribalCarry: Chicken Joe is tied to a pole and carried to the village of the savage penguins. He's completely oblivious to the fact they intend to eat him.
151	* {{Undercrank}}: Parodied in a sped-up montage when the surf contest is being set up. The backing music starts to speed up faster and faster along with the camera, and at the end, Mikey says "I feel lightheaded" in a chipmunk voice.
152	* UnderdogsNeverLose: [[spoiler: Averted. Tank loses, but Cody doesn't win, either, having forfeited first place to save Joe.]]
153	* WaterfallShower: Cody and Lani end up cleaning themselves up under a waterfall after getting covered in glowworm poo.
154	* WaxOnWaxOff: Parodied and subverted, in which Zeke has Cody doing ridiculous training exercises to help him "learn how to surf". Cody finally figured out that Zeke was playing practical jokes on him, and learned that the real lesson was to relax and just have fun.
155	* WhatTheHellHero: [[spoiler:Cody asks Big Z to watch him surf in the contest, but Z refuses and asks if winning is so important to Cody. They argue about it until Cody demands to know [[ArmorPiercingQuestion why Z's been hiding after his wipeout]]. After Z tells him the whole story, Cody becomes disheartened that his hero is a quitter, and both part. Later, Lani also berates Cody for caring more about winning than about her or Z. They all make up when Lani fears that Tank killed Cody, and Z risks his life to save Cody from the skeleton zone.]]

Context WesternAnimation / SurfsUp