Jack Johnson film debut out on DVD

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Before the million-selling recording career, Jack Johnson was a filmmaker. A surf filmmaker.

Johnson's musical aspirations may have sidelined his directing career, but fans can catch the singer-songwriter's way-existential debut surf film "Thicker Than Water," now available on DVD.

Johnson will promote the DVD & CD with performances on "The Late Show With David Letterman" tonight, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Friday and "Last Call With Carson Daly" (date to be announced) before returning home to Hawai'i for the holidays.

Co-directed with surfers Chris and Emmett Malloy, "Thicker" is a wistfully lensed, wide-eyed surf travelogue featuring professional surfers (Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian and others) musing on and enjoying their craft. Filmed on the coasts of India, Hawai'i, Ireland, Australia and Tahiti, the surf scenes are aurally colored by a nice collection of gently paced tunes by Johnson, G. Love and Special Sauce, Finley Quaye and others.

The DVD has 20 minutes of bonus footage and an audio commentary track by Johnson and The Malloys. A separately sold CD soundtrack has previously unreleased Johnson and G. Love tracks.

Johnson is headlining his environmental awareness Kokua Festival fund-raiser at Kualoa Ranch on Jan. 3.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.