Approved for 12+

Cutback

High School senior Luke Harris (Justin Schwan) dreams of just one thing... pro surfing. With his best friend Casey (Angel Cruz) at his side, they have two goals: surf and party! But Luke's Mom (Raquel Gardner) and especially Dad (Greg Carlson) have other ideas: pick a college and grow up! When Luke learns that a spot is opening up on the local surf team, he see's his big chance to prove to his parents that he can make it as a surfer and avoid being shipped off to school. Only two things stand in Luke's way: new-surfer-in-town Matt (Andy Shephard) who has his own eyes set on the surf team opening, and his Dad, who insists he give up his surfing dreams and get an education. When a devastating tragedy strikes, Luke is forced to take a hard look at his life and with the help of beautiful "church-girl" Emily (Kelsey Sanders) and his Youth Pastor (Danny Smith), he learns that there's much more to life than riding waves. High School senior Luke Harris (Justin Schwan) dreams of just one thing...
6
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

This is a tightly directed movie with some nice acting chops by the lead actor, Justin Schwan, who portrays Luke Harris, a young surfing high school senior who hangs out with his best friend, Casey Sanchez (Angel Cruz), doesn’t get along with his dad, and who wants to make surfing his career and forego a college education. When Luke’s mother introduces him to Pastor Shane (Danny Smith) and he meets a beautiful young Christian woman named Emily (Kelsey Sanders) he winds up moving further from God, not closer. But the people in his life have been placed there for a reason, and when tragedy strikes these very same people are the only ones who can ease Luke’s pain.

This is a quality production and I was drawn in to the story. I found myself wanting to know how it all would end before the movie hit its climax. A good story and good story-telling does that. The characters are nicely developed, something that you don’t always see in films these days. The directors, Johnny Remo and Lance Bachelder, pull off a wonderful job with some nice surfing scenes and close-ups when appropriate to reflect a character’s pain or frustration. The story is plausible and realistically done.

We are most pleased to award our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal to this movie. It deals with life and death and the spiritual questions most people ask themselves and it throws in some humor to boot. What more would you want from a movie?

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A few disagreements between characters; a truck strikes a car and there is a resulting death.

0
Sex

A young man and woman are interested in each other.

1
Language

Butt-1

1
Violence

A few disagreements between characters; a truck strikes a car and there is a resulting death.

2
Drugs

A character drinks beer and admits to being drunk but his lifestyle changes for the better later on.

0
Nudity

None

2
Other

Church services and conversations about God and the Bible; conversions; disagreements between a father and son and a man and his wife; a death of a major character; a young man disobeys and leaves his room despite being grounded; a father in anger says he doesn't care if his son's surf board came from the burning bush; a character calls a Christian girl "pathetic" but he changes; the term "Jesus Freak" is used.

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