Finds its place amongst the computer animated Hall of Fame

Rating: 8/10 (14 September 2004)

It was nine years ago this November that one of the most influential movies of the next decade was released to mass audiences. The film was Toy Story, and it is credited as being the first fully computer generated feature length film. Expectations were fairly high for the $30 million production and continued to gather momentum through the roaring responses by test audiences and the reaction to the trailers and media hype. When released November 22, Toy Story flew out of the gate with nearly $29 million in its opening weekend alone. The landscape for films and the entries into the top grossing films of all time would be changed forever.
In the nine years since Toy Story debuted, studios have yet to have a misstep with the computer-generated format. Monster's Inc, A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2 became incredibly successful films eating up box office dollar stats upon each release. Not be left behind in the cold, other studio's began to see the Disney cash cows mooing every time a Pixar/Mickey Mouse collaboration hit McDonald's Happy Meals. Fox Studio's released Ice Age (2002), and Dreamwork's lined up the Brinks trucks for Antz (1998) and everyone's favorite Ogre, Shrek and his even bigger sequel Shrek 2.
This fall, children will throw sugar rush tantrums when two films, Pixar's The Incredibles and Dreamworks' Shark Tale hit theaters in the same season that Shrek 2 gets its widely publicized DVD release. In fact, Hollywood is banking on it. Animation studios and their respective creative powers are being dropped like stock in a Martha Stewart portfolio. Gone are the hand drawn ordered celluloid prints of The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and The Aristocrats. We are in a new world now where even Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius can knock on the $100 million domestic gross doormat.
I had the privilege of a screening of Shark Tale at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Although only a child at heart, I will admit that I was more than a little excited amongst all the glitz and glitter of the red carpet. Trailers for the movie did not have the effect on me of say a Shrek or Toy Story. But whatever the coming attractions' originality lacked, Shark Tale more than made up in sheer star power. Will Smith, Robert DeNiro, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Peter Falk's are some of the names that can all be found in print on the films' poster. One of these names alone might get me to buy a ticket for a panned film entry so surely this was a can't miss proposition. Surely?
Well, fret not ye parents who will be dragged by shirttails on opening weekend 'cause Shark Tale fits along nicely amongst its peers in terms of effects, laughs and originality.
Set in the undersea world, Shark Tale is the simple story of Oscar (Will Smith), a small fish with big dreams. A slacker at the local Whale Wash, Oscar is one of those dreamers that think the world should be handed to him on a silver platter. On the other side of the reef, live the sharks. They are a collection of mobster type stereotypes lead by Don Lino (Robert DeNiro) who is looking to turn his family over two his two sons, Frankie (Sopranos' Michael Imperioli) and Lenny (Jack Black). Typical of what you would expect if the actors were playing live action characters, Frankie is the relentless true heir  a mean, in-the-mold-of-his-father type, while Lenny is the vegetarian who can't bring himself to cause harm to another creature. When the two brothers meet Oscar, a freak accident leaves Frankie dead, Don Lino enraged and Oscar holding the key to the city after taking credit as a shark slayer. Lenny sees this as an exploitive opportunity himself  a chance to hide from his violent family responsibilities, and in a very humorously choreographed battle where Lenny pretends to be slewed by the inferior sized Oscar. The movie then plays out in true comedic style as Oscar builds a fortune out of his newfound fame, Lenny ties to hide living a life as a dolphin and Don Lino becomes increasingly incensed on the notion that a predator of sharks exists.
But where the story might be 'simple' the execution is anything but. Computer generated films have spoiled us with sight gags that would be too costly with live action, and with adult-minded humor and references that makes the experience exciting for the grownups in the crowd. Shark Tale does not falter on these points. The opening sequence was captivating as we were taken for a swim through the underwater city. The ingeniousness of the creators and writers were found in every air bubble of the busy Whale Wash where turtles give turtle waxes, in every starfish laying in the celebrity walk of fame and in a sushi chef who wonders if he is in the appropriate market for his business. Each new turn within the city's infrastructure brought to life ideas that the audience cheered, laughed or marveled at the sheer brilliance of the thought process.
Adding to the lure for the adult crowds, Shark Tale had as many film references as one could throw into a film without infringing on the original storyline. Godfather and Jaws references aside, you will may have to see the movie more than once to pick up quotes from films like Jerry McGuire and Ali. The little kiddies in the audience probably wondered what the adults were laughing and grinning at, but Shark Tale rivals Shrek 2 for film references.
Even with all the adult pop-culture references, children will have no problem enjoying the aquatic world that Dreamworks has created. Add a love triangle between Angie (Renée Zellweger), Oscar and Lola (Angelina Jolie) and you have a filmgoing experience that has something for the whole family no matter what their age.
But maybe the cherry on the top was the itself. Each character from Will's Oscar to Peter Falk's Don Brizzi is animated with wonderful detail and color with each creation having similar facial characteristics as their voiced impersonator. Jolie's lips, Scorsese's eyebrows and even DeNiro's mole are all present in their cartoon form. It's as if the actual actor was reincarnated as the fish that best suited their characters and mannerisms. Couple that with the incredible vibrant colors and attention to detail by the animators and you have what could very well become an instant classic amongst this still blossoming format.
It's hard to knock a film like Shark Tale, but then, why would I? Scorsese and DeNiro seem to be having a ball bantering back and forth with one another, Smith has the reins off so he can act his inner child, and Doug E. Doug needed the perfect outlet for his humor that will make him as lovable and memorable as Eddie Murphy's donkey in Shrek. So hey, if they are having a good time, why should I complain.
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