WaffleMovies.com


 

Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle

Click Here to Buy Movie Posters!

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