Movie Review:

Shark Tale

Suppose that after Nemo was found, he grew up a bit, lived in a New York style fish city and worked at a whale wash and you might be able to watch these two films as a back to back adventure if you are in the mood for lots of underwater animated fun.

Oscar (Will Smith) a cute little multi-colored fish, has that livin’ large personality but he’s a lovable loser working at the Whale Wash (yes, there is a Pinocchio joke) where Christina Aguilera sings a cover of the old Car Wash hit. Oscar has dreams of living at the top of the reef and thinks he’s a loser unless he becomes famous and wealthy. Whale Wash secretary Angie (Renee Zellweger) is his best friend who secretly loves him. She sees his real worth of course.

Oscar, who owes money (clams) to shark Godfather Don Lino (Robert De Niro), fears for his life even more so when he is almost eaten by Don Lino’s mobster son Frankie (Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos") who is trying to teach his peaceful, vegetarian brother Lenny (Jack Black) to be a killer. Of course Frankie hums the “Jaws” theme when he’s ready to attack. When an anchor falls on Frankie’s head, Oscar and Lenny meet and decide to help each other. Oscar will get a rep as the mighty shark slayer of Frankie and he’ll help Lenny hide from his mob family if Lenny will just keep his secret. The two become unlikely friends.

Oscar’s rep as the Shark Slayer grows, with the help of Whale Wash owner turned agent Sykes (Martin Scorsese), and he gets all he dreamed of; fame, money and hot chicks like Lola (Angelina Jolie) thus breaking loyal Angie’s heart. However, he’ll have to prove himself when Don Lino believes the rep and wants him dead for killing Frankie.

Shark Tale is more fast-moving and plot-heavy than Shrek or Finding Nemo. Sometimes so fast that I missed a couple of jokes. The film looks gorgeous. It’s fun to look at the creative undersea New York style city where there is a sushi bar.. of course with no customers..it would be cannibalism! Don Lino’s H.Q. is the sunken Titanic where Kate Winslet’s hot painting is on the wall. Martin Scorsese is hilarious as blowfish Sykes and his banter with De Niro is priceless. Who would believe that these two film heavyweights would play…fish! There is a cute, if sometimes annoying rasta-duo of jellyfish who are a few clams short of a chowder.

Some jokes hit and others miss and the plot, if done in the human world, would serve as a pretty good, if predictable episode of “The Sopranos”. But, what Shark Tale lacks in originality it makes up for with quick one-liners, beautiful, colorful and well-executed animation and really fun voice acting from an all-star cast. Jack Black is especially hilarious and adorable as shy, veggie-eating shark Lenny whom you just want to take home and put in a very large tank.

There are a lot of references your parents may get and you won’t (unless you remember who M.C. Hammer was) and plenty that are aimed at kids and teens that you will probably laugh at while the folks sit there looking confused. So, overall, although not as innovative and clever as Shrek, Shark Tale is fun for filmgoers of all ages.

This movie is rated PG

Official Movie Web Site - http://www.sharktale.com/

Pictures courtesy of and copyright Dreamworks SKG