Meh.

Rating: 3/10 (29 April 2005)

Shark Tale is a movie which was calculated to be a success, not inspired to be one. Unfortunately, someone messed up the calculation. It has no personality of its own, hiding behind references to other movies, pop culture, and products (I saw the Coca-Cola billboard about five times before realizing it said "Coral-Cola". Oh, coral. Heh.) The animation feels as artificial as the story, never feeling like it's taking place underwater. Now that I think of it, why did it take place underwater? The characters don't really act like fish, they just act like whoever is voicing them, or whichever characters they would normally play. The same story could've been about mountain goats or talking staplers. Oh well, I guess the Coral-Cola joke would not have worked in a different setting.
This movie is mildly entertaining at some parts, but mostly unmemorable. If you've ever watched Fresh Prince and thought: "Man this Will Smith guy is funny... but he'd be even funnier as a fish!!!" then this movie is for you. Then again, if you're that person, you're riding a unicorn in the forest of rainbows, because you don't exist.
Dreamworks should really take a close look at what makes Pixar films so great: story, characters, and humor that anyone can relate to. Pixar films are timeless classics; Shark Tale, with all of its "currently hot on MTV" hip hops songs and whatnot, will look ridiculous in ten years. Er, more ridiculous.