A Fly In The Champagne: The Review

By Matt Beauchesne/Irons Brothers Productions

The much-anticipated A Fly In the Champagne premeiered last night at the La Paloma Theater in classic fashion. You know the drill by now. Free stuff at the door (in this case chips and guac.) Seats filled with all of North County’s favorite surf bros. A guest appearance by a fired-up Andy Irons. And Chris Cote on the mic, claiming that D Street is polluted, Transworld is the best surf mag in the world and we were about to witness the “best surf movie ever.”

Cote was right on one account. D Street definitely has some high fecal counts after all that rain. A Fly In the Champagne (great title, by the way) is, essentially, Letting Go with a feel-good freesurf trip tacked on at the end. While Beauchesne is a talented editor who will likely go on to make many smash hits with Irons Brothers Productions, and Sal Masekela is the James Earl Jones of surf film narration, this movie should have been less ESPN documentary re-hash and more reality show. The great Kelly/Andy world title clashes have been retold a few times now, and nothing new is revealed in Fly.

What would have been interesting, though, is a candid, real-time documentation of their first real freesurf trip together (on their own accord). How did they carry themselves around each other? Stick the camera in front of them when they’re outside, late at night, having another “I love you like a brother” moment. Put us in the water and let us listen in as they exchange waves. Yes, it’s way harder to pull off. But this is the type of stuff that could have taken Fly to a whole different level. Instead, it will likely fall into the “Also See” category of Andy/Kelly rivalry films.

Of course, there’s some good surfing in “The Trip” section of this movie. Both Andy and Kelly have some poetic moments in ultra-fast and sectiony Rifles and Nokanduis. And Andy’s vertical backside blasts looks as sharp as ever in this film and remind you that he’s far from done.

Is Fly worth seeing? Definitely. Will it give you a whole new perspective on the “greatest rivalry in surfing?” Doubtful. Which means that it’s a movie with plenty of buzz, but not enough bite.

[If you missed last night, you can see A Fly in the Champagne tonight at the Arlington in Santa Barbara. Kelly will be there, too, but don’t expect any celebrity death matches.]

Reader Comments 

Posted Fri Feb20, 2009, 2:09 PM — By Steve

Nice to finally see some honesty in a surf review, as opposed to just towing the sponsorship line. Nice work, Evan. Too bad they couldn't pull anything off from this amazing opportunity, but I heard AI and KS didn't even really hang out at all on this trip — just stuck to their comfort zones. Baby steps...

Posted Fri Feb20, 2009, 2:21 PM — By Jerry Damner

Bro, that was weak. Looks like someone drank the Hatorade. AI & Slates rivelry is classic, all-time & epski and this flick was more-core, to the core. I was at the premeer and there were epic betties, sick tunes and heaps of free suds. D-Street crew, ruling. So epic. If you didn't like the movie, you should have stayed home with your weak crew and like, watched a gay art movie. Just kidding. Thanks for writing an actual review with an actual opinion.

Posted Fri Feb20, 2009, 6:07 PM — By Jay

Funny... if this was just a Billabbong / Quiksilver sponsored movie it would have been applauded, but since Transworld is a part of it, E. Slates had to be butt hurt and cry. Like you said Jerry, "drank the hatorade". I was there last night and the vid is sick, the story and surfing speaks for itself, and i'm not the biggest fan of Sal but he did a great job!

Posted Fri Feb20, 2009, 11:12 PM — By i was there

Yes i was there as well and Slater was half right in the fact that they buttered the movie. You have the two best surfers in the world and this is what you give us? Please someone is going to get it right someday! Great surfing but a missed opportunity for sure!

Posted Sat Feb21, 2009, 5:26 PM — By michael

someone is a bit jealous.

Posted Sat Feb21, 2009, 7:08 PM — By Bolt Thrower

Anything that Chris Cote is a part of is lame! Such a kook.

Posted Sun Feb22, 2009, 11:20 PM — By popcorn

sure the surfing is sick but the story could have been told better. like evan was saying- tell us something we don't know. it's way too hyped up for what it is. matt b is a good editor but he needs to work on his story telling approach. do something original. its a good little story but i wouldn't watch it 3 times and i wouldn't buy the dvd. cote was kinda funny but gay at the same time.

Posted Mon Feb23, 2009, 5:19 PM — By Eric

I have a few Ideas for an Andy/Kelly Redux... guaranteed to document the real bro-down that was missing in Fly in the Champagne. 1. Send them both on the next DRIVE-THRU... and why not up the ante and the DVD sales by inviting Dane and Jordy on the same trip... ad a few notorious surf pranksters and let the Beer or "Champagne" fueled mayhem begin. 2. Send them on a Patagonia/Woodshed Films mission to somewhere freezing and heavy with the Malloys. Andy and Kelly grow huge beards before filming... Priceless. 3. Andy & Kelly go feral for a month with Timmy Turner, Bret Schwartz, and Travis Potter in Second Thoughts 2... and send Chris Cote and a few Transworld model search girls just to put it over the top. It could be Surfing's version of Survivor. Guaranteed major network interest. Any other suggestions out there????

Posted Mon Feb23, 2009, 7:03 PM — By surfingisdirt y

this is surfing mags way of saying. Damnit...Transworld is a better mag. There Kooler, hip and we wish we where them ...but instead we are going to throw rocks at them like a little school boy does to flirt.

Posted Mon Feb23, 2009, 7:07 PM — By chris cote

i love good message board banter, and I still wish I actually went on that trip. D St. I polluted and unsurfable. and I don't care what movie it is, I love watching surf flicks at la Paloma.

Posted Mon Feb23, 2009, 7:20 PM — By Steve

I hear Andy is actually on the next Drive Thru trip. Wow. Wonder how many days he'll last before he storms off in a fit. No five stars hotels and board caddies on those buses. Just a whole lotta Benji and Dono. Can't wait to watch the meltdown. Maybe Kelly could show up for that one too.

Posted Mon Feb23, 2009, 8:59 PM — By mike bbb

i saw the movie in santa barbara and it sucked!!!!!!!!!! all the surf shots are cutaways and the narration is so lame that sal should be ashamed. The highest grade i could give it is a c-....dont believe me see for yourself .....surfed with slater before the movie and he was ripppppppppppppping on a tiny 4 fin sick!!!

Posted Wed Feb25, 2009, 11:24 AM — By jeff - a very cold and undersurfed NYC reader

Have to agree with Steve, the first commentor: this was a really well-written review. The "reality show" suggestion was much more fascinating than the actual premise of "Fly." Well done, Evan.

Posted Wed Feb25, 2009, 7:13 PM — By Suck It

What? Evan and the whole tired ass Surfing staff are just bitter that they didn't get the nod to be media sponsor on the project. If they had, I guarantee you his review would have been a little different. Billabong and Quik co-sponsored this so I'm sure the Transworld guys are laughing their asses off at this. Why? Because a video tour with the two best surfers in the world isn't just a homerun, it's a grand slam. Maybe Quik and Billabong were worried since Source INterlink stock has been trading between .10 and .15 for months!

Posted Tue Aug11, 2009, 11:41 AM — By HEAKON

I read the review on Snowboard-life.com and decided to buy the movie... I thik that is a great movie but I tought that would go deeper in their ''new'' relation... KELLY IS THE BEST!!

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