<P> Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun - Times was mildly positive in his review, giving the film two - and - a-half stars out of four and writing "Soul Surfer is a wholesome movie, intended as inspirational . Whether it will cheer viewers who are not as capable as Bethany is an excellent question . AnnaSophia Robb is a convincing, cheerful heroine . Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, as Bethany's parents, are stalwart and supportive, although the script indeed leaves them with no other choice ." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B grade, writing "(t) he more cynical viewers out there may say,' Not for me .' But Soul Surfer, while formulaic in design, is an authentic and heartfelt movie ." S. Jhoanna Robledo of Common Sense Media gave the film three stars out of five, writing "Yes, it's a message movie, but the message burrows deep enough under your skin to make the movie, given its utter conventionality, unexpectedly stirring ." </P> <P> Despite mixed critical reception, it was a hit among audiences; CinemaScore polls reports that the average grade moviegoers gave it was a rare A+ . </P> <P> Soul Surfer was released on DVD and Blu - ray on August 2, 2011 by TriStar Pictures and FilmDistrict . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="5"> Awards and nominations </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Association </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> Nominee (s) </Th> <Th> Result </Th> <Th> Ref . </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Casting Society of America </Td> <Td> Outstanding Achievement in Casting: Feature--Studio or Independent Comedy </Td> <Td> Joey Paul Jensen </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Crystal Dove Seal Award </Td> <Td> Best Drama </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> ESPY Awards </Td> <Td> Best Sports Movie </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Movieguide Awards </Td> <Td> Best Film for Family Audiences </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Movieguide Awards </Td> <Td> Most Inspiring Performance in Movies in 2011 </Td> <Td> Dennis Quaid, AnnaSophia Robb, Kevin Sorbo </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> People's Choice Awards </Td> <Td> Favorite Book Adaptation </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Satellite Awards </Td> <Td> Best Original Score </Td> <Td> Marco Beltrami </Td> <Td> Won </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Teen Choice Awards </Td> <Td> Choice Movie Drama </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Choice Movie Drama Actress </Td> <Td> AnnaSophia Robb </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Women Film Critics Circle </Td> <Td> Best Female Images in a Movie </Td> <Td> Soul Surfer </Td> <Td> Nominated </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How did they make the film soul surfer