it’s much like most of today’s children entertainment – vapid and uneventful – or in other words, this is one fish tale that anyone will have a tough time swallowing.
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.
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
This clever film is a treat for the whole family in a season when very few films offer family entertainment.
...plenty for the kids to watch that will keep them entertained for the duration of Shark Tale but not nearly enough to keep any but the less discerning adults amused.
We needn’t look further than 'Shark Tale' to realize the studio that revolutionized the art of CGI animation doesn’t own the patent on wit and imagination.
Shark Tale spends too much story time promoting lying, bragging, fame, and egotism.
It's too bad they haven’t written a program that will spit out good characters and a good story, ‘cause that’s what Shark Tale is sorely lacking.
It's not really a movie for squids, but all the inside jokes and adult humor work... if you want silly fun up on the surface, come on in - this shark-infested water is fine.
Story is everything and Shark's is rather thin and soupy, despite the winning improvisational skills of stars Will Smith and Jack Black.
An uneasy cross between rival studio Pixar's Finding Nemo and DreamWorks' own Shrek franchise.
Shark Tale may not quite be an offer you can't refuse, but it certainly merits consideration.
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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