Step Into Liquid
Artisan Entertainment | Release Date: August 8, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews
Positive:
22
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
VarietyScott Foundas
An awe-inspiring survey of global surf culture, with the power to crush the post-"Gidget" decades of Hollywood stereotyping of surfers and surfing. Read full review
89
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Absolutely unlike any documentary you’ve ever seen, Step Into Liquid nearly qualifies as a religious experience. Read full review
88
Rolling StonePeter Travers
The best surfing documentary ever made. And that includes 1966's "The Endless Summer" and its terrific 1994 sequel -- both from Bruce Brown, Dana's father. Read full review
88
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
The movie has dual strengths that silence most objections. Even more than "X-2" or "American Splendor," it is, in a good way, the most comic-booky movie of the year. It's also the human Winged Migration. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Even from the safety of a movie seat, you can just about feel the stinging hardness of the surf. Blue crush? This is more like white smash. Read full review
80
The New York TimesDave Kehr
Like his father, Mr. Brown has the magical ability to take his public on a two-hour vacation. It's the next best thing to being there, and you don't need to worry about sand in your beer. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
The movie's tag line, which promises (among other things) “No stereotypes,” is one of those rare cases of truth in advertising. That Brown also happens to have captured some genuinely awesome surf footage -- often the only raison d’être for such films -- feels like a bonus. Read full review
80
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Ravishing, often entrancing paean to a pastime that has hooked more than its share of hard-core addicts. Read full review
80
Washington PostDesson Thomson
This is pretty much a feel-good film for committed fans and moviegoers looking for some spectacular combination of travelogue, athleticism and slo-mo grace. Read full review
80
Dallas ObserverGregory Weinkauf
The movie's diplomatic breadth compromises its thematic depth -- it basically repeats that fun conquers all -- but few movies will so generously rawk a crowd this year. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron
Not only set the high standards for surfing documentaries but brought the sport much greater respect and interest from around the globe. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneLoren King
As a bonus, "Liquid" also includes eye-popping footage of the top surfers in the world (Taj Burrow, Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama) -- wave riders who make the impossible look easy. Read full review
75
New York PostMegan Lehmann
As transporting as its otherworldly title suggests. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
Provides a few of the best thrills so far this summer. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleC.W. Nevius
Will have even the most landlocked goofy-footers wondering why they never learned to surf. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Brown has expertly captured the exhilarating and terrifying experience of watching surfers attack waves so preposterously large and ridiculously beautiful they defy description. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
In his narration Brown says that he wants to dispel the image of surfers as airheaded slackers, an ambition undercut by his own breathless and clumsy writing. But to his credit he collects some fascinating stories. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeJanice Page
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 full review
63
USA TodayMike Clark
Part of the appeal is the underlying theme of the torch being passed between generations. Think how disappointing it would have been had Dana become an insurance actuary instead of a surfing filmmaker. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
What has changed most dramatically over the years is the camera's ability to shoot as if it were stationed on the wall of those rolling pipelines. For some, this is the next best thing to being there. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
When it's not making the argument that Surfing = Peace, Step Into Liquid can be diverting. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
If the cinematography lacks the up-close-and-personal drama of "Blue Crush," it's still adequate to the occasion -- after all, like any star worth her salt, the ocean has yet to meet a camera she doesn't like. Read full review
60
Village VoiceEd Halter
Like many late-franchise attempts, it stretches its material thin and grasps at novelty, overstaying its welcome despite a handful of requisite dude-that-is-so-fucking-cool moments. Read full review
60
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
Inspires the requisite shock and awe, but a little goes a long way. About the fifth time I saw someone slip-sliding away from a 60-foot wave, I longed to hear someone on the soundtrack say, “That guy is really nuts.” Read full review
60
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
The astonishing visual poetry of Step Into Liquid's best surfing footage nearly compensates for the mindless boosterism of Brown's constant narration and the often comically banal observations of the film's largely homogeneous master surfers. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
There are some novelties, like views of people surfing down sand dunes, but there's also far too much self-congratulation by surfers. Don't step into this not-so-new wave unless you're a die-hard surfing buff. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Surfing isn't inherently service to humanity; it's a sport whose grace and athleticism Brown captures thrillingly, and that should be enough. Read full review
More From This Movie

72 Critic Reviews

8.1 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL