Short Takes:'Soul Surfer,''Meet Monica Velour,''Henry's Crime'

SOUL SURFER**
A teenage surfer recovers from a horrific shark attack. (1:46). PG. At area theaters.

A by-the-numbers biopic about young surferBethany Hamilton(AnnaSophia Robb), whose sports trajectory hit a bump when her arm was bitten off by a shark. Despite the setback, Hamilton became a top wave rider, and the shots of her in action are great to watch. But those moments are too heavily edited to be fully exhilarating, and the film's depiction of her family and friends is from a pious, standard TV-movie-style kit— just add water.Dennis Quaidlends some needed saltiness as Hamilton's supportive dad.

MEET MONICA VELOUR**
A teenager searches for a former porn star (1:38). R: Sexuality. At Clearview Chelsea.

It's sweet that"Meet Monica Velour"has an appreciation for idiosyncratic side trips in pop culture, such as weird-looking food-service trucks and 1980s porn stars. One comes away from the movie, however, feeling like too many of these passions were stuffed into its herky-jerky story of a teenage nerd (Dustin Ingram) who sets out forIndianato get an autograph from his fave former Triple-X star (Kim Cattrall). The dorkster and the pornster strike up an odd friendship, and a gentle Americana seeps through. The deepest chord is hit by Cattrall, who almost manages to wipe away the memory of"Sex and the City 2."

HENRY'S CRIME ***
An ex-con uses a theater company as a cover for a heist (1:48). R. At the Sunshine andClearview1st& 62nd St.

Keanu Reeves gives an adroit turn in this pleasantly deadpan caper as Henry, an ex-con framed for a heist he knew nothing about. Released from prison, and with the help of a wry career criminal (spot-onJames Caan), he decides to actually rip off the bank he served time for robbing.Vera Farmiga("Source Code,""Up in the Air") is the no-BS, would-be actress whose theater is located conveniently next to the target.Director Malcolm Venville, who made the British gangster flick"44 Inch Chest,"has a strong handle on the tone, so even the familiar twists feel fresh.

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