Heath Ledger is hilarious.

Those who enjoy skateboarding and the surf will be taken on an exhilarating ride.

In Venice Beach, California, the area known as Dogtown is a ghetto near the sea. Skip - Australian Heath Ledger - runs the Zephyr surf shop, a hang out for teenage surfers including the ambitious Tony Alva, played by Victor Rasuk, the gifted but troubled Jay Adams, Emile Hirsch, and the most together - Stacy Peralta, played by John Robinson. Seeing potential in their revolutionary skateboard technique, Skip ships in state-of-the-art polyurethane wheels for their boards, and enters them in competition as team Zephyr. Their loyalty to Skip is tested when corporate sponsors recognise their talent, and fame and fortune follow. Director Catherine Hardwicke, who made the tough teen film Thirteen, delivers a gritty and authentic coming of age story, about how these young men deal with overnight success. Heath Ledger is hilarious as the ringmaster of this urban tribe, but it's Emile Hirsch's stand out portrayal of Jay Adams, struggling to deal with too much too soon, that focuses on the rebellious spirit that lifted this sport to such heights. Even if you're not into the lifestyle, Lords of Dogtown is a fascinating and exhilarating ride.