THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994 TAG: 9406030098
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
DATELINE: 940604 LENGTH: Medium
The new film, again directed, co-written, and narrated by the genial Bruce Brown, again takes two surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave - and temperatures that will, indeed, make summer endless.
{REST} The photography is breathtaking in its newfound technological advances, capturing both booming surf and pristine sand. The first ``Endless Summer'' was made with a single 16mm camera at a cost of $50,000 and went on to earn more than $30 million. It was released in an era when surfing was still somewhat of a speciality known in mass culture primarily for inspiring laid-back California music by groups like the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean.
The sequel arrives in an era in which surfing is a mainstream sport and people do, indeed, traverse the globe much as the two central characters do on screen.
The original surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, have been replaced by dark-haired Robert ``Wingnut'' Weaver, who uses the old-fashioned long board, and tow-headed Pat O'Connell, a specialist on the newer, more maneuverable short board whose spirited laugh adds natural humor.
The two surfers are remarkably natural and seldom give any hint that they know a camera is watching.
Their stops, with highs and lows in between, range from Australia to South Africa, Costa Rica, Bali, Java, Fiji, Hawaii, Alaska and France, with a wide variety of adventures along the way. There are also visits to many of the surfing veterans from the original film. (This may be the longest interval between original and sequel in movie history).
The setting, of course, is an idyllic one that may exist only in the movies. There is no work, few money worries and no stress whatsoever. Everyone appears to be a buddy, and no one appears to be uptight about anything or anyone. Throw in a notably unobtrusive music score by Gary Hoey and Phil Marshall and you have a fantasy that is a great deal for the price of a ticket.
You'd hardly expect a political message in a film of this type, but there it is. In the midst of the film's Costa Rica section, a little-known surfing area is identified as ``Ollie's Point,'' named after Oliver North, who is apparently a famous figure in the area. Brown's narration points out that ``apparently everybody knew about it but Congress.''
Brown, who is now 56, resisted urges to make this sequel for several decades. His narration is often witty and sly in a good-natured-jock manner. He joshes everything and everyone in a mildly sarcastic vein.
The cameras can now get inside the barrel of the wave and even underwater at the zenith of the action. For variety, there are a surfing doggie, a curious bear, hungry lions, a jaunt down whitewater rapids, a bit of ``water skiing'' on sand and a good deal of camaraderie among varied and interesting natives in every locale. There's even a witty reference to the score of ``Lawrence of Arabia'' during the South African visit.
You don't have to be interested in surfing to enjoy this spirited medley of adventures. It's guaranteed that you won't be able to sit through it without leaning, squirming and coaxing the heroes through those awesome, turbulent, barrels. Sure, it may just be an idealistic fantasy, but it's good while it lasts.
by CNB