Today’s quick review: Shark Tale. Oscar (Will Smith), a fish who works a dead-end job at the Whale Wash, gets his chance at greatness when a freak accident lets him take credit for killing the son of Don Lino (Robert De Niro), a fearsome shark mobster. But his unearned success causes problems of its own, forcing Oscar to team up with Lenny (Jack Black), a soft-hearted shark and Don Lino’s other son, to keep up the ruse.
Shark Tale is an animated family comedy set in an undersea world of anthropomorphic fish. Shark Tale follows Oscar as he bounces from one tricky situation to the next. The movie features a star-studded cast, colorful visuals, an energetic tone, a complex plot for a kids’ film, and a bevvy of pop culture references. However, its hit-or-miss humor, mediocre characters, and unfocsed story keep it from having its desired impact.
Shark Tale relies heavily on pop culture for its laughs. The setting is an aquatic-themed parody of modern society, amounting to a series of thinly clever puns and sight gags. The dialogue riffs on popular movie quotes, the sharks parody the Italian gangsters of the crime genre directly, and the soundtrack uses upbeat pop music to set its tone. These many references result in a movie that’s often funny but is short on originality and heart.
The story has plenty going on, but it lacks focus. Plot threads include Oscar’s debt to his boss Mr. Sykes (Martin Scorsese), the unrequited love of his friend Angie (Renee Zellweger), his fame as a shark slayer, Lola’s (Angelina Jolie) attempts to take advantage of him, and Lenny’s strained relationship with his father. The plot threads tie together in interesting ways, but the film’s major shifts in focus keep it from telling a satisfying story.
Shark Tale is further hampered by thin characters and odd source material. Oscar lucks his way through most of the film without learning his lesson; when it finally comes, it lacks the weight it should have. Likewise, the rest of the cast do a decent job comedically but fail to make a real connection with the viewer. Even stranger, key parts of teh plot are lifted from the crime genre, an unusually mature source of inspiration for a kids’ movie.
Watch Shark Tale if you’re interested in a fun but insubstantial family comedy that tries its hardest to be hip. Shark Tale’s over-reliance on cultural references, muddy story, and lack of an emotional core make it a marked step down from the competition. But its talented cast, workmanlike comedy, and upbeat tone are just enough to make it a pleasant watch for viewers who aren’t feeling too critical.
For a more heartfelt undersea family adventure, check out Finding Nemo. For an animated comedy from Dreamworks that tries a similar formula with more success, check out Robots or Flushed Away. For a more polished Dreamworks comedy with similar appeal, try Megamind.
6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for entertaining but derivative comedy hurt by a flawed story.