Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle
|
Shark
Tale
Let's get one thing straight before we jump into the review. Don't ask me
what kind of fish each character is supposed to be. Do I look like a marine
biologist? Sure, that would be a cool job, and I enjoy watching Animal Planet,
but all I know is some fish are whales, some are sharks and salmon is
scrumptious. It's a movie, just go with it.
Will Smith provides the voice of Oscar - a fast-talking bottom feeder fish
who works at an underwater, fish city's Whale Wash (One of the movie's funniest
jokes, and I LOVE that song. Where are Richard Pryor and George Carlin when
you need them?). It's a down and dirty job, but Oscar is a dreamer and schemer
with hopes of moving on up to the east side someday. Plus, it can't be all
that bad since he works with Angie (Renee "even sexy as a fish" Zellweger),
who loves him dearly.
Don Lino (Robert DeNiro), leader of the shark mafia, rules the city with
an iron fist, but one day, his sons, Frankie (Michael "typecast" Imperioli)
and Lenny (Jack Black) have a run in with Oscar, which, accidentally, leaves
Frankie dead (this is the stuff kids might not be able to deal with). Lenny,
a vegetarian shark who doesn't want to be in the mob, sees an opportunity
to escape the carnivorous life as witnesses mistakenly believe Oscar killed
both Frankie and Lenny. Our hero is willing to go along with it once he realizes
the fame and fortune that accompanies his new legendary status as Oscar the
Sharkslayer, but his life may never be the same again.
Will Don Lino get revenge for his sons' deaths? Can Oscar and Lenny keep
the secret? Will Oscar let fame go to his head?
If your kid sees the comic side of mafia vengeance killing, the whole family
will have a great time, but Shark Tale
is more for the adults and older kids than the little ones.
Writers Rob Letterman, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift and Michael J. Wilson provide
some of the best jokes for adult audience members, especially when these
cartoon characters deliver classic lines from the actors' best-known movies.
Stuff like DeNiro's Don Lino saying, "I heard things," are drop dead hilarious,
but little kids aren't going to get those jokes, and the complex plot with
several little stories might confuse them. I kind of wish the writing team,
the directing team (Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson and Rob Letterman) and DreamWorks
decided Shark Tale would be an adult
cartoon like The Simpsons or
South Park, and then crammed it full
of those great allusions, but it was not meant to be. With double or triple
the smart jokes, Shark Tale would be
a classic. As it is, it's a funny movie adults and teens will enjoy. Possibly,
the littlest ones will be drawn in by the ensemble's energetic performances.
While Will Smith performs to his typical high standards (with a little too
much Will Smith thrown in when we know he can shape a unique character better
than this), I was taken aback by Black, Zellweger and, shockingly, Martin
Scorsese! Black got my attention when he created a character instead of using
his own voice. He makes Lenny into a unique persona with a different voice
and behaviors than what you normally see from the over-the-top and often
annoying funny man. It was a daring choice when almost everyone is expecting
to hear the typical Jack Black approach of mugging for the camera and acting
like Bill Murray without the talent. I might have to eat my words and start
to get excited about him in Peter Jackson's King
Kong remake.
Zellweger does a fantastic job bringing out the drama and emotion of Angie's
relationship with Oscar, and gives the movie some heart, but Scorsese was
the biggest surprise. Directors usually direct because they can't act, but
Scorsese was perfect as Sykes - a puffer fish who serves as Oscar's boss
at the Whale Wash. He shows amazing timing, and uses his own unique voice
to wonderful comic effect.
Shark Tale is the first of an animated
film assault on cineplexes. Before Christmas, we will see event movies like
The Incredibles,
Polar Express and
SpongeBob SquarePants.
Shark Tale sets the bar high, and, I
hope, indicates a great fall and winter of funny films to come.
3 Waffles (Out Of
4)
Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
|