Captain Laura
Maidentrip
Review by Ross Anthony

Ever feel like getting out of the rat race and seeing the world? These certainly seem like the sentiments of a person facing a midlife crisis. You wouldn't think a fourteen-year-old would have been alive long enough to feel such a calling? But then again, perhaps it takes a teen to have the guts to actually do it.

Myself, I made it to twenty-five before I stuffed my backpack and set out to circle the globe on my own. But even at that age, I was scared almost to the point of passing-out over making that dream real. Therefore, impressed with the courage of this young girl and her fight to "earn the right" to adventure solo into the great unknown, I screened this film.

I feel a bit uncomfortable reviewing it though, because it's not really the filmmaking that keeps this production afloat. It's Laura's audacious story. That said, the filmmaking is just fine. It's really the editing that deserves kudos, because Laura must have shot hours and hours of footage out at sea alone over the course of her year-plus, 27,000 mile journey around the world. The takes included range from personal and whimsical to mildly haunting. Together with scenes of Laura's in-port bonding with fellow travelers and some very nice watercolor map animations that chart her where-abouts for interested audiences, the sum result is compelling and inspirational. In addition to the fascinating voyage, Laura shares her unusual youth around boats and how her parent's divorce effected her decisions.

Additionally, the court battle over a youth's right to adventure, which in this case, leads to questions of custody, makes for a ripe prompt for a rousing conversation regarding the distance modern civilization has traveled from our more primeval Earthly birthrights. That said, thankfully, the film doesn't stall in the courtroom.

See it. It just might re-inspire that teenage spirit of adventure missing in your life.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --


  • Maindentrip. Copyright © 2014.
  • Starring Laura Dekker. Film by Jillian Schlesinger. Edited by Penelope Falk. First Run Features.

Grade..........................A- (3/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Monday, 06-Jan-2014 15:25:40 PST