Chicken Joe is a fictional character from the 2016 computer animated film Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania. He is a laidback chicken from the Midwest who has a passion for surfing. Chicken Joe provides comic relief in the films and often speaks in a hippie-inspired manner.
Background
In the first Surf’s Up film, Chicken Joe is a young chicken from Lake Michigan who attends the Big Z Memorial Surf Off on Pen Gu Island. He is an unlikely surfer, hailing from a landlocked area, but he has natural talent for the sport. Chicken Joe surprises the other surfers by making it to the final round of the surf competition. He loses to the film’s protagonist Cody Maverick but earns respect from Cody and the other experienced surfers.
In Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania, Chicken Joe returns as one of the main characters. He joins Cody Maverick on a surfing tour across the globe. The tour is sponsored by a duck named J.C. who wants to bring surfing to new audiences as an extreme TV sport. Chicken Joe provides humor and remains laidback even as the sport becomes more competitive.
Personality and Traits
Chicken Joe has a very relaxed and happy-go-lucky attitude. He is always smiling and doesn’t let things get him down. Some of his notable traits include:
- Laidback and upbeat
- Passionate about surfing
- Friendly and welcoming to others
- Philosophical and introspective at times
- Enjoys good vibes
- Speaks with surf slang and hippie lingo
Chicken Joe brings a certain California surfer aesthetic to the films. His use of slang terms like “dude” and “man” gives him a youthful, chilled-out voice. He often references harmony, good vibrations, and “hanging loose.” Overall, he represents the cheerful, wanderlust spirit of the surfer lifestyle.
Voice and Mannerisms
Chicken Joe has a distinctive voice provided by actor Jon Heder. Heder uses a natural speaking voice with a youthful, energetic tone. Some key features of Chicken Joe’s voice include:
- Smooth, relaxed cadence
- California “surfer dude” accent
- High-pitched with a raspy edge
- Upbeat inflection even when chilled out
In terms of mannerisms, Chicken Joe moves very loosely and fluidly, as you would expect from a surfer. He often has a slouched posture and bobs his head or taps his foot along to a laidback rhythm. Chicken Joe gestures frequently with his wings when he gets excited about something, particularly surfing. He is very expressive facially, with big reactions and smiles.
Inspiration
Chicken Joe was created by the writers/directors of Surf’s Up as an original character for the film. However, he does seem to draw inspiration from a few real-life figures and cultural icons:
- Jeff Spicoli – The stoner surfer character played by Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High is an obvious influence. Chicken Joe has a similar speech pattern and outlook.
- The Dude – The protagonist of The Big Lebowski, played by Jeff Bridges, feels like a spiritual cousin to Chicken Joe. Both embody the laidback philosophy of going with the flow.
- California surf culture – Chicken Joe represents real surfer dudes with his slang, vibe, and passion for catching waves.
- 1960s hippies – His talk of good vibrations and wanting to “spread the aloha” reflects hippie ideals of peace, love, and harmony.
While Chicken Joe is his own original character, he pays homage to classic Southern California surfers and theZen-inspired hippies of the 60s counterculture movement. His dialogue, mannerisms and outlook blend elements from real figures like The Dude or Spicoli with the chilled-out wisdom of the surf lifestyle.
Reception
Chicken Joe quickly became a fan favorite character from the Surf’s Up films. Audiences loved his energetic voice work by Jon Heder along with his kooky personality. Chicken Joe was seen as a poster child for the franchise, encapsulating the sunny, beach-bum spirit the movies try to convey. His popularity led to an expanded role in the sequel.
Critical reviews singled out Chicken Joe as a highlight. His antics and dialogue were consistently praised as some of the most entertaining parts of both movies. Critics particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition between Chicken Joe’s blissful ignorance and the more competitive surfers in the cast.
Overall, Chicken Joe connected with viewers because he represents the pure joy of surfing. While other characters get caught up in rivalries and ego, Chicken Joe embodies the reason they surf in the first place – to have fun and enjoy the ocean. His positivity and magnetic energy makes him impossible not to root for.
Conclusion
Chicken Joe may seem like just comic relief at first glance, but he represents the heart and soul of the Surf’s Up franchise. This unlikely surfer from the Midwest tapped into a cultural zeitgeist, blending surfer vibes, hippie wisdom and lighthearted humor. While Chicken Joe is his own original creation, he brings to mind classic California characters like The Dude and Spicoli along with the real-life zen of surf culture. With his energetic voice, go-with-the-flow attitude and passion for surfing, Chicken Joe became the breakout star audiences couldn’t get enough of.