Ocean Boy (AKA: Bosch & Rockit) – Review
106 Minutes, Not Rated
Written by Drue Metz (Story by Tyler Atkins)
Directed by Tyler Atkins
**NOTE: this post may be updated with audio if we actually have the chance to talk about it. Until then, you can read Mark’s review below. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**
Synopsis:
In the late summer along the Australian coast, Bosch, a young father goes on the run for drug dealing with his surf gang. In tow is his son, Rockit, who believes he is on a magical holiday.
Set in the late 80s and “based on true events” (ugh), Ocean Boy is the feature debut of director Tyler Atkins, who is apparently a lifelong surfer and, for lack of a better phrase, “Australian Hippie,” and it shows here.
Rockit (played incredibly by first-timer Rasmus King) is a teen who idolized his father, a devil-may-care man who loves surfing and his son (even if that love doesn’t include cooking or making sure he attends school regularly).
His dad, Bosch (played by Luke “the other” Hemsworth), comes off as the surf-hippie he is, but who can also muster the intellectual fortitude to develop and run an effecient pot-growing enterprise which is profitable enough to keep himself comfortable, his friends/employees able to party as much as they want, and keep the cops off his back.
Mom, on the other hand, shows up later and is problematic, at best.
The trouble begins when a childhood friend (and cop on the take) brings along a superior who wants Bosch to expand his enterprise to enrich him, as well. Taking cocaine from other busts, the new guy wants Bosch to move it for him, making him an employee of the crooked cop instead of a freelance pot playboy.
He tries to refuse, but as he’s stalling for time, a brushfire wipes out his fields and shop, bringing down the full force of law enforcement as his enterprise is discovered.
On the run we go, trying to figure out what to do. Telling Rockit it’s the holiday he’d been promising, Bosch is desperate to keep Rockit safe while keeping himself out of prison.
Rockit meets a Ashley (Ash-Ash) at the surf hotel they’re staying at and forms a friendship that will see them both through the next couple years and blossom into something more (obviously).
A reunion with his mother, some harsh lessons about the real world, and the maturation of Rockit beyond what even his father might have guessed culminate in Bosch achieving salvation through his son in an unexpected way.
But Bosch is not redeemed in any way , shape or form, only relieved of the burdens of his past deeds… for now.
The performances are the best part of Ocean Boy. Hensworth is serviceable as the loving yet questionable father, King embodies the naivete and gentle nature of the aforementioned Rockit, and Savannah La Rain as Ash-Ash makes a fine showing in her feature debut, as well.
The cinematography of the stunning Australian coast and surf scenes is beautiful overall, and sometimes breathtaking, reminding me again of why I would like to visit there someday.
Ocean Boy is now playing in select theaters and is On Demand and stars Luke Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Leanna Walsman, Savannah La Rain, and Rasmus King.
And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.
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