Step Into Liquid 2003

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: Step into Liquid is for extreme sports fans, for sure. But its appeal is wide enough to leave this mild-mannered movie critic itching to catch a wave someday. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Brown's premise is that surfing is fun anywhere, and his film celebrates that idea and showcases the spectacular moves and wrecks that are an integral part of any surf movie. Read more

Loren King, Chicago Tribune: This lively, entertaining documentary shows how surfing has evolved into an extreme sport popular the world over, and yet still retains its slacker, sun-bleached charm. Read more

Dave Kehr, New York Times: Belongs to that category of films, like nature documentaries and some Andy Warhol movies, that are pleasantly boring. They are neither too thoughtful to demand a critical response, nor too complacent to invite ennui. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: [Brown] collects some fascinating stories. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Truly like a day at the beach. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: Essentially a long, handsomely filmed infomercial, it never removes its trembling lips from surfing's bronzed posterior, but it delivers enough of the goods visually that the choir it's preaching to shouldn't mind. Read more

Janice Page, Boston Globe: Serves up enough action and passion to stay afloat, but at the end of the day it's just not the perfect ride those earlier films were. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: An enticing invitation to get your feet wet in the world of surfing, to experience the beauty and feel the rush of this most addictive of pastimes. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Step Into Liquid is a great title for a surfing documentary, and the movie, written, edited, and directed by Dana Brown, lives up to that trippy sensual promise. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: In any sport, whether it's whacking a ball into a cup or your opponent into submission, the majestic and the absurd are very close cousins, and Brown is generous enough here to give us a long look at both. Read more

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News: The spectacular photography, smart editing and pounding score is so hypnotic, it's a shock to come out of the theater and step onto concrete. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: The movie's tag line, which promises (among other things) 'No stereotypes,' is one of those rare cases of truth in advertising. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: Because Brown comes off as propagandizing for surfing, it actually undermines his argument (if you can call it that). Read more

Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger: With neo-rock replacing beach boyisms and new optical technology permitting crisp Steadicam close-ups of ballet-like aquabatics, Step into Liquid is state-of-the-art non-art. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: Visually glorious. Read more

C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle: A bubble wash for the senses, an adrenaline rush for the mind. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Brown goes off in search of those who surf only because they love it. And this takes him to some unexpected places. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: When Step Into Liquid remembers that it is indeed all about the wave, it pulls us right into it. Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Part of the appeal is the underlying theme of the torch being passed between generations. Read more

Scott Foundas, Variety: An awe-inspiring survey of global surf culture. Read more

Ed Halter, Village Voice: [A] draggy, visually underwhelming portrait of contemporary surf culture. Read more