Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007) - Movie Review

Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board - Guide Review

Johnny Tsunami is back in the extreme adventure sequel Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board . Johnny's back on board all right, but this is a whole new kind of adventure. Johnny's grandpa is getting married, so Johnny is going back to Hawaii to meet his new family members; turns out, they are not quite what he had expected.

Johnny's new uncle, Chris, is a bitter and sarcastic 12-year-old. Johnny tries to reach out to Chris, but Chris has his own set of friends - and his own style of boarding. Chris and his friends are to good for traditional surfing, opting for a new style of boarding known as dirt or mountain boarding.

It's easy for Johnny to see that some of Chris' new acquaintances are not real friends, but Chris pushes Johnny further away every time he makes an effort to connect with him. Even worse, Chris' negative behavior is threatening the happiness of his own mother and Johnny's grandpa. To help the situation, Johnny takes up dirt boarding in order to keep an eye on Chris, but the road to family unity can be awfully bumpy.

Although the movie has the typically predictable sequel-style story line, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board has some "cool" entertainment elements to offer kids in the way of excitement and adventure - all set to an alternative rock soundtrack. The focus on extreme sports and head to head competition will grab kids' attention as they root for the hero, Johnny Kapahala, who takes on this new and dangerous sport without even flinching.

At the heart of the movie, though, is the tender story of Chris, and the difficulty he is having in accepting this new life that has been thrust upon him. The movie carries a strong moral of family support and unity, which develops as Chris learns that his search for acceptance has led him back to his own family - the people who have been waiting with open arms the whole time.

Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board - Note to Parents

In the movie, extreme sports such as surfing, snowboarding and dirt boarding are portrayed as being fun and very cool. Disney does throw in a scene where Johnny insists on using protective gear, and participants, even the antagonists, are shown using protective gear throughout the film.

The movie contains intense themes surrounding Chris and his refusal to accept his new family and his mother's decision to marry. Also, in his struggle to fit in Chris chooses some shady friends. Because of their influence, Chris ends up breaking trespassing laws, disobeying his mothers' rules, and sneaking away from his family to participate in dangerous dirt boarding competitions (in one scene, he even flattens Johnny's tires in order to escape).

The bullies on the Dirt Devils boarding team display bad attitudes toward both peers and adults, culminating in two characters' decision to vandalize the new store that John Kapahala and his fiance plan to open. The Dirt Devils also goad Chris into taking an extremely dangerous mountain boarding jump.

In one scene, Johnny sees two girls and talks about being happy to be back in Hawaii. In another scene he and Sam pull out some bikini's (merchandise for the store) and raise their eyebrows and smile.

Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board - Topics to Talk About

• Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board contains themes surrounding subjects such as: single parents and marriage, bad influence friends, moving, extreme sports, competition, and bets.

Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board - DVD Bonus Features

• The Dirt on Dirtboarding: Interviews with the cast and crew bring you into the world of this extreme new sport.
• Angle On: Board Stunts: Take control of the different board angles in the movie. Includes audio commentary from mountain-boarding legend Akoni Kamal.
• Music Performances from Jonas Brothers and T-Squad