I'll tell you why so serious

Good concept, poorly executed.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

The final film directed by Curtis Hanson (before his death in 2016), who could deliver with films as "L.A. Confidential" (1997) and "8 Mile" (2002) in the past, was not able to see his vision for "Chasing Mavericks" through in the season 2011/2012, so that fellow director Michael Apted needed to finish the picture in order to make the U.S. release date on October 26th 2012 for Fox 2000 Pictures (an affiliate of 20th Century Fox). The result misses a directorial signature and further gripping situations to connect with an audience. A typical story of living the American dream beyond borders and restrictions in case of character of Jay Moriarity, performed by an pale to faceless looking commoner Jonny Wetson, who gets mentored by the surfing legend Frosty Hesson, portrayed by an distressed looking Gerard Butler. Both actors can not build the chemistry to bring "Chasing Mavericks" to life. Instead the movie drips through sequences of beautifully shot point-break-waves and underwater scenes, which feel disconnected from any character evolution.The main character's purpose or better to obsession of chasing the perfect wave, the maverick, gets neglected through uninspired screen-writing by Kario Salem, who gives the Jay Moriarity the all-too-well-known treatments of being absent from school, working for his surf board, getting to know the girl of his dreams and must fight off an far from hostile looking bully gang.In between Jay meets with mentor Frosty to analyze waves, write reports on his observations and gets the occasional free meal, because his mother, performed by an recalling "Leaving Las Vegas" Elisabeth Shue, is unable to take care of her son and build a proper relationship, which towards the end of the movie fades away into oblivion.All the relationship in "Chasing Mavericks" seem underdeveloped. Character conflicts feel close to indifferent to the audience. Nevertheless there had been a chance to make the relationship between Jay & Frosty charged-enough to build some kind of suspense for Maverick-riding-final, when Frosty's wife dies under him on an occasional visit by Jay at their house. The young and the old man have no common moment to deal with Frosty's loss, which would have build a connection to the opening sequence rescue by Frosty, who pulls out death-seeking, reckless-behaving Jay out of the water of razor-sharp rocks all-around to become his substituted father.Hard to recover, who directed what in this picture, so "Chasing Mavericks" stands there as an rare example, when over-exhausted artists get to the point of giving up their profession for the sake of a peace-seeking homestead. The conclusion of "Chasing Mavericks" is unsatisfactory and underlines the fact that a director needs to be in his full state of power and balance to take a movie production on, which deals with the dream of self-fulfillment itself.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

it is not a real story's adaptation. it is not a film about surfing. it is not exactly a lesson about self definition, courage, friendship, passion and challenges. it is a splendid embroidery.using each that elements but giving a great support for introspection. because the story of Jay Moriarty is axis for a splendid construction. the virtue of director is to use each level of story in wise manner. to preserve the freshness of teenagers, the frustration of adult, so delicate miracle of love, the past and the questions who becomes more important than answers. a film for everything. for different motifs. in fact, for one. because it is a homage and a pledge for profound love for life. because it is simple and touching and deep convincing. because it is result of great job of a team. and source for different perspective about existence.

The movie is based on true events.What inspired me was the courage of both main characters to keep leading their lives in spite of so much of turbulence. The movie has really captured the same essence and fulfills the as a good entertainer as well.The movie is made nicely with no stupidity unless someone really sits down to see technicalities involved in surfing. The location is great and best things is that it has succeeded in capturing the essence of surfing. The director has really made lot of effort in capturing the right waves which can justify the might of surfing! Direction is good. Music is nice. Gerard Butler acting is appreciable. Jonny Weston is brilliant. Overall a great story.

"Out of water, I am nothing." - Duke Kahanamoku A biographical drama about the life of American surfer Jay Moriarity, "Chasing Mavericks" was directed by Curtis Hanson. Hanson fell ill on set, leading to director Michael Apted stepping in and completing the film.The plot? Jonny Weston plays Jay, a kid living in Santa Cruz, California. Obsessed with surfing - which becomes Jay's means of escaping various social and familial problems - Jay befriends Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler), a local surf legend. Hesson begrudgingly mentors Jay, and teaches him the art of surfing gigantic swells known as "mavericks".Despite an interesting premise, "Chasing Mavericks" is swamped with clichés. The film features a cheesy student-mentor relationship, a tired "rites of passage" formula, familiar romantic subplots, routine domestic drama, dull platitudes about "Nature" and "waves", and a lead character who has no personality beyond his cartoonish fixation on boards and beaches.Nothing in "Chasing Mavericks" rings true. Whilst the film is adored by surfing aficionados, the film is largely an insult to their subculture. A better film would capture the beauty of surfing, the sights, sounds and smells of the coast and the realities of living in coastal communities. It would capture the feel of sand between the toes, of moonlight skittering across tranquil oceans and of sea-spray on sun-baked boards. It would delve into the relationships of those in surf groups, it would show an interest in the colourful characters who are typically found on beaches, the jobs of those who dedicate their lives to the board, and the wonderful nooks, crannies and bits of wind-battered architecture that adorn shorelines. But no. In its telescopic fixation on Jay Moriarity, "Chasing Mavericks" ignores the world. It ignores the subculture Moriarity was attracted to, and ignores the mixture of romance, wisdom, self-absorption and banality which makes beach life so interesting. Poorly acted across the board, the film co-stars Elisabeth Shue and Leven Rambin.5/10 – Outside of documentaries, the surf subculture hasn't been handled well on-screen. "Point Break", "Surfs Up", "Big Wednesday" and "The Endless Summer" probably treat this material as best as its been done.