For those who've recently been dumped romantically, a common comforting expression told to them is that there are plenty of fish in the sea. The jilted might wonder why somebody would want seafood after such rejection. The saying, of course, has a symbolic meaning beyond the literal, specifically meaning that there are plenty of others from which to choose.
With the release of "Shark Tale," I've begun to wonder if that's also starting to apply to computer-animated offerings featuring talking, aquatic characters. Less than a year after the fact, this DreamWorks film follows in the big wake left by Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo."
Much like the last time the two studios competed in the same arena -- with "Antz" and "A Bug's Life" -- DreamWorks and its slightly more adult-oriented kids film comes up short in comparison. That's not meant to imply that it's a bad film, but rather that it just doesn't compare as favorably as its computer-generated cousin.
Beyond the way in which the films have been created and notwithstanding the aquatic characters, the efforts are different enough to be judged separately. As written by Michael J. Wilson ("The Tuxedo," "Ice Age") and Rob Letterman (making his debut), this picture is urban compared to the other's suburban and undersea rural feel.
It also features a plethora of fine details and fun supporting characters. In fact, with so many visual jokes, puns and other humor, it pretty much necessitates a second viewing just to make sure you catch the mixture of broadly drawn offerings (the obvious "Jaws" and mafia material) and other more obscure jokes (including, of all things, a brief bit of audio homage to Benny Hill).
It's just too bad that the main character and story aren't as finely tuned, engaging and/or entertaining. While many animated offerings feature characters that have been visually and otherwise fashioned after those who voice them, directors Vicky Jenson ("Shrek"), Bibo Bergeron ("The Road to El Dorado") and Rob Letterman have taken that concept perhaps a bit too far.
Simply put, the main character is just an aquatic version of Will Smith in his "gettin' jiggy with it" persona. At first, the fact that Oscar looks, acts like and obviously sounds just like Smith ("I Robot," the "Men in Black" films) is cute and somewhat amusing. Yet, the joke quickly wears thin and viewers are apt to see the character as the actor rather than as Oscar the fish. To make matters worse, the character isn't that interesting or even likable, all of which makes the film feel longer and flatter than it already is.
The plot -- concerning Oscar being misidentified as a shark slayer and then having to deal with a shark mobster who wants him dead -- isn't as much fun as it should be. In fact, it feels a bit too artificial and manufactured, which only exacerbates that mediocre aura.
And some of the supporting characters -- voiced by the likes of Angelina Jolie ("Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"), Renée Zellweger ("Cold Mountain," "Down with Love") and even Today Show host Katie Couric never amount to much more than their initial, one-note characteristics (although Zellweger's character is one of the few that's naturally likable).
Jack Black ("Envy," "The School of Rock") breaks the mold as the sensitive and vegetarian shark (and thankfully doesn't sound like himself), director Martin Scorsese delivers his standard, caffeinated fast talk, and despite playing off and with the usual mafia stereotypes, Robert De Niro ("Analyze That," "Meet the Parents") is entertaining as the matriarch of shark-based organized crime.
Ziggy Marley (making his feature debut) and Doug E. Doug ("Eight Legged Freaks," "That Darn Cat") have some fun with their Jamaican-style characters, while "Sopranos" costars Michael Imperioli ("My Baby's Daddy," "Summer of Sam") and Vincent Pastore ("Serving Sara," "Deuces Wild") do their mob material tongue in cheek.
With plenty of jokes and humor for both kids and adults alike (despite some of the cultural references feeling rather dated), the film will probably play well to families. Nevertheless, it's missing a fabulously drawn protagonist as well as that extra spark and something special that have made the likes of the "Shrek" films and those from Pixar so good.
Compared to those other classic, computer-animated offerings, this one can't shake the feeling of being second tier. While "Shark Tale" thankfully isn't floating belly up, dead in the water, many viewers might not be as excited about catching it when compared to those other big fish. The film rates as a 5 out of 10.
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