Sandcooler
Leave it to Neil Israel ("Moving Violations", "Bachelor Party", the script to "Police Academy") to make a vintage 80s comedy...in 1993. "Surf Ninjas" has pretty much every 80s cliché you can think of, if it wasn't for Rob Schneider you'd think this movie was kept in Israel's basement for ten years. There's even some hair metal on the soundtrack, which I'm pretty sure the entire world hated with a passion by 1985. Overall the movie isn't bad, but there are a lot of things they should have done more with. Why get Leslie Nielsen to do five lines? Scratch that, why get Leslie Nielsen to play an Asian general? That's got to be the weirdest casting choice of all time. Even with half his face covered in a mask, it's still a less-than-perfect fit. The humor is mostly left to (possibly improvised?) one-liners by Schneider, there are very little actual gags involved. The fight scenes especially are quite dry, not to mention repetitive. The running gag with the dude falling down a stairs is hilarious, but it's about the only joke I actually remember from the movie (which I saw just yesterday). Then again, there's no such thing as a bad ninja movie. This one's just sorta mediocre compared to many others.
kvatter
Words like hilarious, engaging, funny, light-hearted do not belong anywhere near this film. It is just plain awful and not that "it's so bad it's funny" kind of awful. Just dishwater dull awful. This seemed to be a project where a group of producers wrote down everything that would appeal to an 8 year old boy and hired a writer to incorporate all of them into one vapid story. Kids like Ninjas, check. They like video games, check. They like surfers, check. They like martial arts flicks, check. If you are 10 or under, maybe there's something here for you but I dare anyone approaching puberty or beyond to sit through this without reaching for the stop button. I squirmed as I watched Rob Schneider playing a young high school kid(yeah, a young 30 year old one)mugging and doing his best with an embarrassing role. Oh yeah and Leslie Neilsen. Very funny guy in a very unfunny role. Let us only hope that he collected a well-earned paycheck. No clever gags, no original ideas. You've seen all of this on bad TV movies many times over. Avoid.
Frank Markland
Two California teenagers learn that they are actually heirs to a kingdom in some far away Asian country island however in order to claim their rightful place, they must battle an evil dictator and save their adopted dad in the process. Surf Ninjas is of course as bad as you would expect. I mean we are talking about a movie that is supposed to feature ninjitsu masters on surf-boards who ride to the rescue. What makes this movie so dire is its complete lack of freshness or ambition. This is an obscure, low grade 3 Ninjas rip off that lacks even the remote distinguished thread. As far as these things go, we look at the humor which is inoffensive but unfunny. Acting that isn't awful but uninspired and action sequences watered down for kids. I'm guessing kids into martial arts may like this but given the fact that most kids would rather watch Bruce Lee movies or even 3 Ninjas, Surf Ninjas is only for the kid who will sit through anything. Of course adults forced to watch, may spend the running time wishing they never had kids.1/2* out of 4-(Awful)
itsonlyafleshwound
How could anyone not like this? well, I can definitely see the people who have a stick up their butt and don't enjoy randomness not liking this movie. but COME ON.every single time i watch this movie, i crack up in hysterics. i quote it ALL THE TIME. yes, i am a nerd. but that's okay.so: if you haven't seen it, definitely get on that. Everyone should see it. now. plus, it has rob Schneider! how awesome! Pure genius. oh, and if you want to be a MAJOR nerd like me, watch ninja turtles II (the people version). johnny is in it! Surf ninjas= the most awesome movie ever.
AD
