Like a surfer battling a particularly violent wave, “Chasing Mavericks” struggles to keep its head above water. Based on the life of Jay Moriarity, the picture has a strong biographical feel that keeps it compelling, backed by incredible surf footage and two engaged performances from stars Jonny Weston and Gerard Butler. However, the screenplay by Kario Salem doesn’t trust the purity of brotherhood and the natural challenges of the ocean to fill out the work, bringing in bullies and assorted melodrama to secure an emotional response that’s best earned free of overt manipulation. “Chasing Mavericks” is a gentle effort with modest thematic goals, and while it’s compellingly made, its spirit is diluted by dreadful formula. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com