Review of The Endless Summer

 Considering the relentless onslaught of disgusting winter weather we’ve been receiving in New York, Bruce Brown’s seminal 1966 surf documentary, The Endless Summer, comes as a much needed respite.  This classic surf film chronicles the adventures of two eighteen year old surfers: Micheal Hynson and Robert August, as they follow the summer around the world--the simple elegance of the concept alone is enough to merit a viewing.   

Their journey begins as summer in their home state of California comes to a close and the warm surf is replaced by frigid winter waters with no wet suit to be had..  From there they travel around the globe making stops in Africa, Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand looking for the best surf the world.  

Without a doubt the surfing in the film is very impressive. Our heroes manage to find something to surf in every location they go to, be it a wave not much bigger than a toaster or the perfect waves at St. Francis Beach in South Africa which seem to have no end.  And while I am sure that this movie could stand on its own as a terrific and straightforward surfing film, it is Brown’s personal flair that truly ingrains the movie into our memories.  

There are countless side quests that find Micheal and Robert being chased by monkeys, seeing how close they can get to a giraffe without it running away, surfing down giant sand dunes, and even experiencing the pitfalls of buying gas at a gas station in Africa called “Agyp.”  All this with no supervision or fences to protect them--the world certainly seemed like a much more relaxed place then.  

The film’s entire soundtrack is performed by a band called The Sandals--reading the name alone is probably enough for you to figure out exactly what their music sounds like--and is narrated entirely by Brown, who delivers every ridiculously cheesy line with such earnestness and contentment that it is impossible to ignore the good vibes stewing in your gut.  

While the movie certainly isn’t a substitute for sitting outside with your friends on a hot day with really cold beers, it certainly comes close and with such an abundance of cold and snow this winter, that is more than enough.