Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Surfwise

      R 2007 1h 33m Documentary List
      98% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 66% Audience Score 25,000+ Ratings Forsaking a traditional home life, Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz and his wife raise their large brood in a 24-foot camper and spend their time surfing. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Aug 07 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      Surfwise

      Fandango at Home Prime Video

      Rent Surfwise on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

      Surfwise

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      An intriguing account of a unique family.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Critics Reviews

      View All (46) Critics Reviews
      Drew Toal Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Rated: A- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper [A] wonderful, captivating documentary. Jan 28, 2020 Full Review Mike D'Angelo Esquire Magazine You can't stop watching, but every fiber of your being is still shouting, "Put the goddamn camera down!" Oct 17, 2018 Full Review Marty Mapes Movie Habit New Bohemian lifestyle: good, bad, or neutral? Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 21, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (209) audience reviews
      William L Post-COVID, I'm not sure if Doc Paskowitz's rigorous dedication to his interpretation of natural living sans medicine will click with as many people. Maybe temper those hard and fast rules a bit. Surfwise is a competent documentary of an interesting character full of eccentricities both endearing and eyebrow-raising, but in a sea of engaging and well-researched productions on a range of subjects since 2000 or so, Surfwise is sort of just another (solid) face in the crowd. Initially, the film seems to reach for really low-hanging fruit; so this former doctor lives a Cali-bohemian lifestyle, is vocal about how he likes sex, and uses a few expletives, okay. But the film dives into a much more interesting place when it shows a far darker side to his supposedly idyllic anti-materialism; Paskowitz is variously self-liberated but exceptionally domineering, extreme, often selfish, and even intermittently violent, and his relationship with his children is turbulent at best. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is the rebellious nature of the kids after their departure from the family camper, often going to extremes after their ultraconservative upbringing; they variously balance a sincere belief in some of their father's principles while harboring major resentments for the man himself. Decent film, interesting if not perfect. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/22 Full Review Audience Member A wonderful journey of life, as we don't know it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Tim G Well that's one way to do it. As expected, some elements that make the patriarch appealing, some bordering on appalling or at least just unusual. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/16/16 Full Review Audience Member will make any of our parents look rational and sane. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Various philosophies of life : Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Very interesting documentary. I never heard of the Paskowitzes before this film. They had a very different story and lifestyle. Part of me thinks it would be cool to live like them, but the other part is alright as is. Ha. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      85% 82% Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson 97% 87% Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room 73% 55% Mr. Untouchable 95% 82% I Like Killing Flies 69% 61% Reel Paradise Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Surfwise photos

      Surfwise

      The Paskowitz family home in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. Adam Paskowitz in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. Adam Paskowitz in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. Five of the Paskowitz children in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. Doug Pray, director of SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. The Paskowitz family in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. The Paskowitz family in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. Doc Paskowitz in SURFWISE, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Forsaking a traditional home life, Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz and his wife raise their large brood in a 24-foot camper and spend their time surfing.
      Director
      Doug Pray
      Producer
      Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Joana Vicente, Jason Kliot
      Screenwriter
      Doug Pray
      Production Co
      HDNet
      Rating
      R (Language|Some Sexual Material)
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 31, 2015
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $268.6K
      Runtime
      1h 33m
      Sound Mix
      Dolby Digital
      Most Popular at Home Now