Although the vocal performances often amuse and delight, the overall design is charmless.
Shark Tale (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:169
Fresh:58
Rotten:111
Average Rating:5.1/10
Consensus: Derivative and full of pop culture in-jokes.
Rated: U [See Full Rating] for some mild language and crude humor
Runtime: 90 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:15-10-2004
Synopsis: Oscar (Will Smith) is a fast-talking little fish who dreams big. But his big dreams land him in hot water when a great white lie turns him into an unlikely hero. At first, his fellow fish swallow... Oscar (Will Smith) is a fast-talking little fish who dreams big. But his big dreams land him in hot water when a great white lie turns him into an unlikely hero. At first, his fellow fish swallow Oscar’s story hook, line and sinker and he is showered with fame and fortune. It’s all going along swimmingly, until it starts to become clear that Oscar’s tale about being the defender of the Reef is all wet. Oscar is finding out that being a hero comes at a Market Price when his lie threatens to make him the Catch of the Day. Now he has to tread water until he can get the scales to tip back in his favor again. "Shark Tale" stars the voices of Will Smith as Oscar, a hustler, who has always been able to fin-agle his way out of trouble, until now; two-time Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro ("Raging Bull," "The Godfather, Part II") as Don Lino, a great white shark at the top of the Reef’s food chain; two-time Oscar® nominee Renée Zellweger ("Chicago," "Bridget Jones’s Diary") as Angie, a beautiful angel fish who harbors a secret crush on Oscar; Academy Award® winner Angelina Jolie ("Girl, Interrupted") as Lola, the femme fatale, a dragon fish who uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants; Jack Black ("School of Rock") as Don Lino’s son Lenny, a great white shark who is a closet vegetarian; and multiple Oscar®-nominated director Martin Scorsese ("Gangs of New York," "Goodfellas") as Sykes, a puffer fish who is full of hot air and never misses an opportunity to make a few extra clams. Rounding out the main cast are: veteran actor Peter Falk ("Columbo") as Don Brizzi, a shark who is long in the tooth, but still has plenty of bite left; Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") as Don Lino’s oldest son Frankie, a chip off the old shark; Vincent Pastore ("The Sopranos") as Luca, an oily octopus, which makes him the perfect right-hand man; and Doug E. Doug and Ziggy Marley as Bernie and Ernie, two Rastafarian jelly fish with a stinging sense of humor. "Shark Tale" is directed by Eric "Bibo" Bergeron and Vicky Jenson, with Rob Letterman serving as co-director. Bill Damaschke, Janet Healy and Allison Segan are producing. [More]
Starring: Will Smith, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Martin Scorsese
Starring: Will Smith, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Ziggy Marley, Peter Falk, Vincent Pastore, Michael Imperioli
Director: Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron
Director: Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron
Screenwriter: Mark Swift, Damian Shannon
Producer: Allison Lyon Segan, Bill Damaschke
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC
Reviews for Shark Tale
Shark Tale is no disaster, but despite the efforts of three directors, two screenwriters and phalanxes of technicians, it seems to be treading water.
Essentially, the anchor doesn't go deep enough and Shark Tale is left to flounder.
Filled with all of the promise and originality of Finding Nemo. It's all just too late to really appeal to the same all-encompassing audience.
It's simply a silly bit of undersea fluff ... jammed to the gills with pop culture references and fishy puns.
Too much in-joking and stereotypes drown the film in its own conceit. Beautiful visuals but tired and recycled premise.
The mystery is why Dreamworks continues to desperately imitate when they’re capable of brilliant original work like "Shrek 2"
Not even the eye candy animation is all that great. The film has a flat look that matches it comedic tone.
The movie is clearly written and produced around the persona of Will Smith, which is either glorious news or cringe-inducing, depending upon who you are.
Shark Tale has its funny moments and some outstanding design elements. But its story is fundamentally misconceived and, in the telling, diffuses like sponge squeezings in the middle of the ocean.
Shark Tale does have moments of fun and a couple of the goofier gags work, but it comes off as Shrek leftovers and sloppy seconds to Finding Nemo.
Shrilly pandering to edgy, jive-talking, hip-hopping bents of the moment, [Shark Tale] churns up a sea of offensive ethnic stereotypes, unfunny situations, unsympathetic characters and lousy plotting.
Inside this dazzling animation is a dim plot that imagines Goodfellas living in the land of Jaws and being serviced by the dudes at the Car Wash.
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