Directed by: Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, Rob Letterman
Written by: Michael J. Wilson & Rob Letterman
Starring: Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, Martin Scorsese
Rating: [3/5]
Films released in their time serve as a testament to their era not only in the technology available at the time but also in the type of storytelling popularly utilized. No other film has felt more like a mid-2000s animated film than Shark Tale, let me tell you. Through the animation and the adequate narrative, this story brings a charm that allows you to look away from its more ghastly and unpleasant elements.
Spending his days unhappily working at a whale wash, Oscar (Will Smith) dreams of being rich and living a completely different lifestyle. When he dishonestly gets the opportunity by providing the idea he killed a shark, he gets the chance to embrace the level of stardom he has sought.
With voice performances from the likes of Will Smith, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Angeline Jolie while looking the way it does, this feature has the appearance of a cocaine-laden fever dream someone concocted. Sure, it has elements of a grounded story and arcs for some of these characters but before getting into all of that it must be said, there’s a level of uncanny valley evident in this feature that makes it quite the surreal experience to watch. Oscar the fish looks a bit too much like Will Smith in appearance but not really where it’ll make you want to scream at what the heck the animators were thinking here.
Oscar’s story operates as one seen before and can relate to many as they dream to live a better life than what they currently have. They don’t want to stay and live the same life as their parents but strive for more, which serves as their source of inspiration to do more. Then you have Lenny (Jack Black), a vegetarian shark who’s pressured to act like a real shark by his father and eat other fish. They reach a deal where Oscar can purport to be a shark killer by fake-killing Lenny to soak in the fame amongst the other scared fish while Lenny can hide from his shark family and start a new life.
With the level of deception Oscar lives with to achieve his fame, the inevitable truth of the matter would eventually make it to the surface but this film does lay some nice lessons that children can take away from watching the film. Well, after they are done screaming into the abyss following being subjected to watching the animation on display throughout the film. However, as much as I jest about this animation, I truly like the world built in this fish society where it essentially operates as an underground New York City where they all have a healthy fear of sharks coming to attack. It has all of the same sensationalism ones would expect from our world but with fish. Everyone has their dreams and wishes they seek to achieve. It feels actually lived in, which serves as a rich background for what makes for a mildly enjoyable story.
As much as I loathe the evolution of using famous actors for their voices in animated films when voice-over artists could do a much better job, I cannot lie and say I did not love Martin Scorsese voicing an overly-stressed pufferfish. It somewhat still feels surreal Scorsese decided he wanted to voice act in this role and never going to complain about that. He does a great job and it’s hilarious he has not done it again for an animated film since. Additionally, Will Smith proves the man has so much charisma it can make its way out of even through simply using his voice with Oscar. The man, without a doubt, has some exceptional talent and he brings it out through a scarily animated fish.
Unquestionably an animated film from 2004, Shark Tale has all of the trademarks of culture during that time and the type of high-rise dwelling and bling-wearing lifestyle that dominated pop culture. Instead, we get it here in the shape of these fish trying to navigate their lives by escaping the wrath of the sharks. It teaches the lesson of maintaining integrity and honesty while also showing no shame exists in following the in the footsteps of parents even if does not yield the most fabulous lifestyle. Despite all of its issues, it still has plenty of entertainment value and proves to be enjoyable many years later.
Films with Josh 
