”Soul Surfer” is a heart-wrenching reenactment based on the traumatic 2003 event. Teenager Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb), while surfboarding off the Kauai Coast is attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark which tears off her left arm. Quick thinking and first-aid is ministered by father and daughter Holt Blanchard (Kevin Sorbo), and her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson, Jack’s daughter), who rush her to the hospital. Bethany’s dedicated parents Tom (the always reliable Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt), and two brothers (Ross Thomas, Chris Brochu) pitch in with love and support as despair and depression take hold of their girl.
The surfing scenes are exciting and visually eye-catching in director-co-screenwriter Sean McNamara’s stirring film based on Bethany Hamilton’s autobiography and documentary, “Heart of a Soul Surfer.” AnnaSophia Robb is praiseworthy in portraying the suffering, endurance and courage of the teen and gets strong support from Quaid and Hunt as the inspiring parents. Western singer Carrie Underwood in her screen debut is prosaic in a padded role as a youth counselor.
Image Source: CDN
