Surfing Odyssey Turns Treacherous in Crime Drama

Read Time:2 Minute, 57 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Sons of Summer
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Genre: Action
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director(s): Clive Fleury
Writer(s): Phillip Avalon, Greg Clayton
Cast: Temuera Morrison, Isabel Lucas, Joe Davidson
Where To Watch: on-demand and digitally in the US from Lionsgate and digitally in the UK July 15, 2024 from Trinity Creative

RAVING REVIEW: SONS OF SUMMER – it’s a wild ride that takes us through the emotional upheavals of a young man named Sean (Joe Davidson) and his quest to keep his late father’s memory alive. Tossed about in the waves of friendship, crime, and one spectacular surfing odyssey, Sean finds himself on a precarious edge where joy meets despair and memories intermingle with heart-wrenching realities.

Caught in the storm is our hero, who plans to take a trip down memory lane by visiting his dad’s cherished surfing spot. Joined by his friends, Sean’s journey turns turbulent when an old pal, caught in the whirlpool of drug peddling, convinces him to plunge into a risky theft. A cascade of events follows where love, friendship, and loyalties are tested, and Sean is hurled into the treacherous current of life and death decisions.

SONS OF SUMMER initially revolves around the four sons, especially Sean, who still battles with the undertow of the past. He finds solace in Katie (Isabel Lucas,) his girlfriend and a fixture at the local surf bar. The plot, however, swerves off course when Rick’s desperate need for financial assistance clashes with the plan for a nostalgic trip, echoing their fathers’ journey. The story plunges deeper when Sean is caught in the crossfire triggering a high-stakes chase with a ruthless mob enforcer named Frank.

A formidable villain, Frank (Temuera Morrison) relentlessly pursues his stolen goods. But despite this captivating chase sequence, the film often loses its narrative wind, choosing to sail towards extended lines of surfing exploits. This sudden shift in narrative current leaves viewers feeling beached, as the thrilling crime saga seems to morph into an elaborate surfing film. As the storm of violence ensues with Frank pursuing Sean, Katie stands as a beacon of unwavering support. SONS OF SUMMER, at times, struggles to retain the viewers’ interest, the surf seeming to wipe out due to some bumps in dialogue and underwhelming performances by some.

The film’s climax introduces a perplexing twist when Katie, Sean’s girlfriend, makes a stand you wouldn’t expect. The characters’ obsessive devotion to surfing seems to eclipse the gravity of their actions, resulting in a skewed moral compass.

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[photo courtesy of LIONSGATE, TRINITY COLLECTIVE]

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