SURF NINJAS
An awful martial-arts comedy with violent action and little surfing.
Should You Watch It?
The source review's written judgment is clear: this is a poor film despite its four-star entertainment-quality rating. It calls the humor low-grade, the acting bad, and the overall production unsuccessful. Even Leslie Nielsen's comic talents are wasted in a stilted performance, and the movie delivers little surfing despite its title.
The content also places it outside family viewing. Martial-arts fights use chains, knives, and swords. The story includes revenge and murder plots, and pagan religion is taught as a source of power.
So the practical answer is simple: skip it, especially for children and young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTwo teenaged brothers and their best friend live as beach bums in Southern California until foreign ninjas kidnap their adopted father and try to kill them. A mysterious figure reveals the brothers' noble ancestry: they are royal princes from the Isle of Patusan.
The island has fallen under the rule of Colonel Chi, an evil dictator. The brothers must face a series of fights and adventures as they learn what their destiny requires.
Is It Any Good?
The source assigns four stars for entertainment quality, but its written assessment is emphatically negative. It describes the film as “awful,” with low-grade humor, violent action, and bad acting.
The review particularly criticizes Leslie Nielsen's stilted performance as Colonel Chi, saying the script never allows him to be funny. It also faults the director, writer, and producer for failing to deliver much of anything, including the surfing promised by the title.
The Worldview
The film presents royal ancestry and destiny as central to the brothers' identity. Religious prophets foretell that they will overthrow an evil dictator, and the story culminates in their becoming the warrior kings they were destined to be.
The source's content review also notes pagan religion being taught to the characters to give them the “power of warrior kings.” That spiritual framework differs from a biblical view, in which power and kingship belong under God's authority rather than coming through pagan religion. The film's plots of revenge and murder likewise contrast with Scripture's call to leave vengeance to God: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (Romans 12:19).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Approximately 3 obscenities & no profanities; plots of revenge & murder; martial arts fights with the use of chains, knives & swords; mechanical hand grabs genital area during fight; and, pagan religion taught to characters to give them the "power of warrior kings."
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The brothers are told they have a special destiny. How should Christians think about purpose and calling without treating power or status as the source of identity?
Ephesians 2:10 · 1 Peter 2:9The film connects warrior kingship with pagan religious power. What does the Bible say about where true authority comes from?
Romans 13:1 · Psalm 24:1The story includes revenge and murder plots. Why does Scripture forbid personal vengeance, and what does trusting God’s justice look like?
Romans 12:19–21 · Proverbs 20:22How can entertainment be technically energetic yet still fail to be worthwhile? What standards should guide your choices?
Philippians 4:8 · 1 Corinthians 10:23The Final Word
Despite its four-star source rating, the review calls SURF NINJAS awful, with low-grade humor, bad acting, violent action, and troubling spiritual content. There is little reason to spend your family's time on it. Our answer is SKIP IT. For better options, see.
