Semi-Delightful Animated Flick

Rating: Null/10 (3 October 2004)

"Shark Tale", for what it's worth, isn't simply a mindless visual feast for children. It has its share of whims, delights, and good humor, and in many respects, it can be a quite enjoyable experience. I enjoyed the "shark mob" scenario, especially interesting with the likes of Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorcese offering some pleasant humor in reference to "The Godfather". On the other hand, not all of the fishes in the sea are great catch. Will Smith, providing his usual "bad boy" talents to a ridiculously lame looking fish is sorely ineffective and sometimes annoying: the "impervious sharkslayer" scenario can hardly sustain this plot without becoming tedious, predictable, and even lamentable. Oscar the fish's love interests, Renee Zellweger and the luscious Angelina Jolie are decent diversions to Will Smith's cawky character, yet are extremely spared, and even when they receive presence, Oscar stands in the way of them having any memorable dialogue or significance to the story. The most perturbing character in this "sea of wonder" was Lenny the Shark, a wimpy, sentimental, pathetic excuse for an ocean warrior, who becomes immensely unwanted throughout the story. The dialogue is routine, and borrows heavily from mob classics and Smith hits, and rarely can you take a shark or a fish too seriously. The music is pleasant and droll, if not entirely portentous, and it too is nothing original. Overall, I'd deem this "Shark Tale" a step above the usual Disney family fare (e.g. "Finding Nemo"), with many delights, fancies, and whims, yet many of the characters, the plot, and the hastiness of the film can hardly sustain even a seemingly fun fare as this. After all, there are fairer fish in the sea for catching. **1/2 out of ****