Let me first start off by saying that DreamWorks new movie, Shark Tale is NOT a Finding Nemo rip-off. Despite the fact that both movies have fish, the two films are very different in both style and substance. While Finding Nemo was more cuddly; Shark Tale is more brash. And this brashness does not hinder the movie in anyway. Surprisingly, DreamWorks Animation has effectively created a movie that combines intelligent humor, a unique story, and fun characters into a film that, I feel, makes Shrek look average, and shows that DreamWorks is not just a one-trick pony.
The movie primarily follows two fish: Oscar (voiced by Will Smith), is a “small fish in a big pond.” He works at the local whale wash while constantly dreaming of living at the top of the reef and being a “somebody.” The other fish is actually a shark named Lenny (Jack Black), who is a little bit different. Lenny is a vegetarian, and this shameful truth is something that his father (a “Godfather” of sorts voiced by Robert De Niro) doesn’t understand. Story is essentially this… when Oscar is unable to pay is blowfish boss Sykes (Martin Scorsese) the marks that he owes him, he finds himself in shark territory being tortured by two Jamaican jelly-fish. Lenny is being forced by his father and brother, Frankie, to prove that he is a killer. Lenny and Oscar cross paths, and in an unfortunate accident Frankie is killed. Oscar, in an attempt to become something bigger than he is, claims that he is the one who killed Frankie, and becomes the coral reefs local defender. However, things get complicated when Lenny and Oscar meet up again, and Oscar’s “best friend” Angie (Renee’ Zellweger) discovers the truth. Oscar and Lenny scheme to solve both of their problems in a staged fight, which only causes more problems. The plan works, but Oscar begins second-guessing if it’s all worth it. The gold-digger of a dream fish that had caught his eye, Lola (Angelina Jolie), doesn’t like where things are heading and causes lives to be put at risk and hard choices to be made.
I know it’s a pretty convoluted story, however the fresh characters and grand humor makes everything relatively easy to follow. The movie is filled with small touches, reminding us of classic mob movies and the current. A character is even included reminiscent of the Gingerbread Man. Surprisingly, most of the jokes in the film had more of the adults laughing than the children. Where Shrek a lot of times went for a cheap laugh, Shark Tale will actually take a risk in something that might not completely work. Luckily though, the smart phrases and great characters allow for way more hits than misses.
I cannot get over how great the characters in this film are. Each one is believable real; with dreams and aspirations as well as detrimental flaws that must be overcome. In the end, the characters are the ones that would have been very difficult to carry off with any weaker ones. The humor never over-bounds the story, and the story never over-bounds the characters. The film does get really preachy right at the tail in, but the viewer has come to love the characters that you actually don’t mind the preachy-ness to see that everyone is happy.
DreamWorks has really outdone itself with this movie. They have moved from the simple “anti-Disney” to a studio that can indeed create compelling characters and stories that don’t have to resort to toilet humor. They have a movie that is complex, entertaining, and more importantly filled with heart. Shark Tale is a surprisingly fresh film, that is unique in everything that it does, and I honestly think will be one of DreamWorks finest films.
FOUR OUT OF FOUR STARS
Overall Summary- This ain’t Nemo. This movie will make you laugh, as well as make you think. This is DreamWorks at its finest, and judging from the teaser of Madagascar that precedes it, the studio is just now hitting stride.
The movie primarily follows two fish: Oscar (voiced by Will Smith), is a “small fish in a big pond.” He works at the local whale wash while constantly dreaming of living at the top of the reef and being a “somebody.” The other fish is actually a shark named Lenny (Jack Black), who is a little bit different. Lenny is a vegetarian, and this shameful truth is something that his father (a “Godfather” of sorts voiced by Robert De Niro) doesn’t understand. Story is essentially this… when Oscar is unable to pay is blowfish boss Sykes (Martin Scorsese) the marks that he owes him, he finds himself in shark territory being tortured by two Jamaican jelly-fish. Lenny is being forced by his father and brother, Frankie, to prove that he is a killer. Lenny and Oscar cross paths, and in an unfortunate accident Frankie is killed. Oscar, in an attempt to become something bigger than he is, claims that he is the one who killed Frankie, and becomes the coral reefs local defender. However, things get complicated when Lenny and Oscar meet up again, and Oscar’s “best friend” Angie (Renee’ Zellweger) discovers the truth. Oscar and Lenny scheme to solve both of their problems in a staged fight, which only causes more problems. The plan works, but Oscar begins second-guessing if it’s all worth it. The gold-digger of a dream fish that had caught his eye, Lola (Angelina Jolie), doesn’t like where things are heading and causes lives to be put at risk and hard choices to be made.
I know it’s a pretty convoluted story, however the fresh characters and grand humor makes everything relatively easy to follow. The movie is filled with small touches, reminding us of classic mob movies and the current. A character is even included reminiscent of the Gingerbread Man. Surprisingly, most of the jokes in the film had more of the adults laughing than the children. Where Shrek a lot of times went for a cheap laugh, Shark Tale will actually take a risk in something that might not completely work. Luckily though, the smart phrases and great characters allow for way more hits than misses.
I cannot get over how great the characters in this film are. Each one is believable real; with dreams and aspirations as well as detrimental flaws that must be overcome. In the end, the characters are the ones that would have been very difficult to carry off with any weaker ones. The humor never over-bounds the story, and the story never over-bounds the characters. The film does get really preachy right at the tail in, but the viewer has come to love the characters that you actually don’t mind the preachy-ness to see that everyone is happy.
DreamWorks has really outdone itself with this movie. They have moved from the simple “anti-Disney” to a studio that can indeed create compelling characters and stories that don’t have to resort to toilet humor. They have a movie that is complex, entertaining, and more importantly filled with heart. Shark Tale is a surprisingly fresh film, that is unique in everything that it does, and I honestly think will be one of DreamWorks finest films.
FOUR OUT OF FOUR STARS
Overall Summary- This ain’t Nemo. This movie will make you laugh, as well as make you think. This is DreamWorks at its finest, and judging from the teaser of Madagascar that precedes it, the studio is just now hitting stride.
