Rock the Boat is a fun, fast-paced documentary about the Los Angeles River and the challenges society faces in providing clean water to urban populations. When satirical writer and avid kayaker George Wolfe organizes a boating trip to demand public access to the river, he and his motley crew become entangled in a national controversy surrounding the river’s “navigability” and consequent eligibility for Clean Water Act protection. With startling images of the LA River, insightful interviews and a soft spot for humor, the film is a bright alternative to the current spate of doomsday documentaries.