This debacle of a film is absolutely appalling. Keanue Reeves plays Johnnny Utah, a newly recruited hot shot FBI agent who attempts to infiltrate the Californian surfing community in search of a group of bank robbers known as the Ex-Presidents who have so far eluded the police and not left any clues, except for a hunch by veteran agent Pappas who suspects the robbers may be surfers. Utah goes undercover by lying, cheating and cruelly tricking his way into surf babe Tyler's life.

Over the course of the investigation, Utah is not only apparently seduced by Tyler's beauty which I couldn't see due to Reeves wooden performance but also by the enigmatic and spiritual surfer Bodhi played by a brilliant Patrcik Swayze - spoiled by a laughable beach blonde mop to boot - which I equally couldn't see for the very same reasons. More believably however, which is where the film's strengths lie but more down to the mystical surfing cinematography, Utah becomes addicted to the adrenalin rush of life on the edge and the control freak life that Bodhi and his merry band of surfers lead. The two don't sit comfortably because the oneness with the sea and even the adrenalin junkie nature doesn't sit well with the wreckless and stone cold desire to rob banks and take risks with innocent people's lives. You have Bodhi's danger seeking character filling an elemental void in Utah's very shallow and hollow soul. Reeves tries to act too mature and yet the character is a schmuck just out of the academy with not much experience. I could have actually believed that a cop like Utah could have been seduced by Bodhi but Reeves's performance is so confused and the script so weak that there's not a line that passes the so-called actor's mouth that you believe he means any of it.

The film falls to its lowest ebb in depicting the relationship between Tyler and Utah. Once she is terribly hurt by his deceit, there is no justification for her returning into the imposter's arms. If he truly loved her he would have come clean at some point in the film. This is even further made more embarrassing by the fact that the director is a woman but what do you expect from Kathryn Bigelow, she was so seduced by James Cameron she obviously couldn't see anything bad in creating such a deceptive character to fall in love with. Plausibility has never been Bigelow's strongpoint.

The best thing about the film is the best chase scene I've ever seen on foot. it is so well staged you feel you're right there amongst the action. There's great cinematography and stunt work throughout including surfing and daredevil skydiving scenes that though appear unbelievable are done so well they look pretty real and are loaded with excitement and breathtaking and exhilarating beauty.

My only defence for Keanu Reeves is a lame one; He's very handsome and was physically in great shape for this film. He was young and believable to look at in terms of being a wannabe surfer freak.