Not Perfect but Surely Entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2003)

Despite its sometimes sappy and clichÃ© plot, this is a fun movie. Many of its jokes fall flat, incomprehensible to the child audience yet too immature for the adults. On the other hand, the many references to other movies (The Shining and Psycho) are hilariously fitting. The animation is often stunning, with all the creatures filled with vitality. What's cooler than the mysteries of the deep, and this film presents them charmingly. I laughed out loud one or two times, but I smiled a lot, and I didn't feel patronized (much) by the film's targetting of a youthful audience. Overall fun and entertaining. [7/10]