Shark Tale by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, Rob Letterman

Rating: 5/10 (21 March 2020)

The stories about how the main characters who get popular, through either the truth or a lie, are interesting to see how they would handle it. Especially to see if they would feel initially grateful, to then start to have doubts, if it is right or wrong in what the main characters do. As often their parents, their friends or even their fiancés would react in the negative way, to disagree with the popularity of the main characters. Then in the end the main characters would take the decision, by either remaining as popular as the people recognize, or giving everything up to follow a different life and try to do the right thing. The DreamWorks Animation have been interested to develop a story with this theme, but set the story underworld of the sea, as the fishes and other undersea creatures are the characters to be followed in the story. By relating the audience with the way the characters do around in the television, shops, advertisements, journalisms and so on. The filmmakers Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob Letterman have been involved as the directors of the project, by trying to develop the story in the creative way as well as in the profound way. The movie has been elaborated with the settings and with the characters, in every single details of the animation in the creative and in the colorful way. After a long time of work, in 2004 came out Shark Tale by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob Letterman, with Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black and Martin Scorsese. The movie's plot: In the underworld of the sea, the son of the shark mob boss Frankie (Michael Imperioli) gets accidentally killed by an anchor, while he was hunting with his vegetarian brother Lenny (Jack Black). The young fish Oscar (Will Smith) is found in the scene, as he takes advantage by telling a lie that he killed Frankie. While Oscar gets popular like he's a kind of superhero, the boss mob Don Lino (Robert De Niro) seeks vengeance by trying to find Oscar, who gets then called the Sharkslayer. The premise of the movie seems to be interesting, to give the audience some reflections about the popularity. As the animation of the movie has been elaborated, to be as detailed as possible in the colorful way, by making the story funny and in the same way emotional. Especially in the moments where the characters are taking some important choices, to see if they are going to do the right thing or the wrong thing. The movie from the beginning to the end, entertains the audience with funny as well as thrilling moments, which are fused with humor and rhythmic songs. As these elements capture the audience attention, to be perfect as a family movie. But there should have been more exploration, about the lives of the people in different social classes, by making clear if there are some people who want to believe in a big dream, or even what they hope for their future. Will Smith has done a well done performance as Oscar, a young fish who works in the Whale Wash as tongue scrubber and he wants to be loved as much as some popular celebrities. Oscar's biggest influence has always been his father, who was the number one tongue scrubber. Once Oscar gets popular from a lie, he would be initially so happy, to be loved by everyone, until he realizes that is better to be honest, rather than to be a fake image. Even there should have been more details, about the way Oscar lives to see how difficult his situation is, before he gets popular. As well as there should have been sequences, about how the relationship between Oscar and his father, was more or less close with each other. Another more or less sequences which could make the movie interesting, is since Oscar gets popular how he would use the money to make more or less kindness on the people who need help. Robert De Niro did an excellent performance as Don Lino, a shark boss mob who takes care about his sons Frankie and Lenny. Even Don Lino's relationship with his son Lenny is difficult, as he hopes Lenny would become a strong shark like Frankie. Since Don Lino has heard about the popularity on Oscar as the Sharkslayer, his anger would increase to seek the vengeance with no mercy. Even there should have been more details, about the relationship with Don Lino's family, to see how close he is with his family, as well as how his anger would grow in every steps. In the same way, there should have been some flashbacks about Don Lino's father, to see if there are more or less parallelism on the relationship between him and his son Lenny. Renée Zellweger did an interesting performance as Angie, a young fish who is the best friend and colleague of Oscar. Angie is the one to believe in Oscar, as well as she is the one who would make Oscar reflect about the choices he takes. Even there should have been more details, about how Angie hopes to get close to him with love. As well as about what Angie's family think about the way, she moves forward with her choices. Angelina Jolie has done a well done performance as Lola, a seductive fish who pays attention only on the popularity. Since Oscar gets popular, Lola starts to have a romantic relationship, which would cause a problem between Oscar and Angie. Even there should have been more details, about the way Lola lives, as well as if she is following a particular lifestyle. To see if Lola lives in a more or less illusory life, or even if she is more or less involved with the mob sharks. Jack Black did an excellent performance as Lenny, a vegetarian shark and son of Don Lino. Since the death of Frankie, Lenny leaves Don Lino to disappear, as he cannot be as strong as his brother Frankie. Since he finds out the popularity of Oscar, Lenny befriends with him. Even there should have been more details, about when Lenny has started to be vegetarian, to see also who has influenced him to be different from Frankie. As well as what Lenny wishes to become, rather than to become a mob like his brother and especially like his father. Martin Scorsese has done a well done performance as Sykes, the owner of the Whale Wash. Sykes is also the loan shark for which he asks Oscar to find 5.000 clams, to pay a debt to the sharks, after he had been fired by Don Lino. Even there should have been more details, about how Sykes met Don Lino and how the business of Whale Wash has started. To see also how the business keeps moving forward, either in the good or even in the bad way. Shark Tale is an entertaining colorful movie perfect as family movie, filled with humor and rhythmic songs. But the movie has some unanswered questions, which the characters could have been better developed.