| Reviewed on 2004-10-04 |
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| Rated | PG |
| Received |  [3] out of 4 stars |
| Genre | Animation / Comedy / Family |
| Website | http://www.sharktale.com |
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| This new computer animated film takes a poke at gangster films and is full of great humor. The computer animation is breathtaking, featuring an undersea kingdom with amazing detail and believable characters.
The hero of the film is Oscar (voiced by Will Smith),a small fish with big dreams. When a shark is accidentally killed, Oscar assumes credit for taking out this nemesis of the reef where he lives. Now a big hero, he lets success go to his head. He ditches his long time girl Angie (Rene Zellweger) for the sultry Lola (Angelina Jolie). The entire town cheers as his name is put in lights.
The sharks hang out in the sunken Titanic and their leader is Don Lino (Robert De Niro) seeking revenge against Oscar who took credit for waxing his oldest son, Frankie (voiced by Michael Imperioli of the Sopranos). His other son Lenny (Jack Black) is a disappointment to Don since he lacks the killing instinct prefering a vegetarian diet and has love in his heart for the other fish. He befriends Oscar and cooperates in a cheme to keep the sharks from destroying the reef.
The reef has been transformed into a mini times square complete with flashing signs and other famous sights of this busy place. Martin Scorsese plays Sykes, a scheming blowfish, complete with bushy eyebrows. The parades are so fast and frequent, the film warrants repeated viewings. Also included in the cast is Katie Couric as the Reef's top anchorfish, Katie Current. Doug E. Doug and Ziggy Marley play Bernie and Ernie, two wild jellyfish with a stinging sense of humor. Even Peter Falk makes an appearance as Don Ira Fienberg, an old shark with plenty of bite.
Shark Tale has plenty of bite for young and old alike. The kids at a screening with me giggled at most of the silliness. The adults marveled at the continual jokes and parodies. This clever film is a treat for the whole family in a season when very few films offer family entertainment.
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