Shark Tale
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I’ve always been a pretty dedicated Disney fan—which is obvious to anyone who’s taken a gander at my movie collection. So DreamWorks animated films always seemed like a cheap knock-off to me. It felt like they were missing something. When I saw the previews for Shark Tale I was still a bit leery—despite the fact that it looked like a fun movie. When it came to the local cheap theater, though, I figured it was worth a buck—even if I didn’t like it.

Shark Tale is part The Godfather, part Jaws, part Aladdin, and part The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It’s the story of Oscar (Will Smith), who works as a tongue-scrubber at the local whale wash—but he dreams of someday being somebody. One day, he just happens to be nearby when a shark is accidentally killed by a falling anchor. Oscar takes credit and becomes a local hero—they call him the Shark Slayer. What Oscar doesn’t know, however, is that the shark he claims to have killed was the son of Don Lino (Robert De Niro), the head of the shark mafia.

Meanwhile, Don Lino’s other son, Lenny (Jack Black), blames himself for his brother’s death and decides to hide from his family. He’s afraid to tell his father that he’s different—he’s a vegetarian—because he doesn’t think his father will be able to accept him.

Together, Oscar and Lenny decide to use the situation to help each other—and themselves—out.

So…first the bad news. Shark Tale feeds on just about every cinematic cliché out there. And the hip-hop thing is a little over-the-top at times. And this movie, like other DreamWorks animated flicks before, just doesn’t seem to have the same heart that you’ll often find in a Disney movie.

The good news, however, is that it’s still a lot of fun. While it doesn’t have that Disney Heart, it also doesn’t have the Disney Sap that’s often spread just a little too thick. It’s not a really emotional film—it’s just plain entertaining. It’s filled with all kinds of pop culture references that will keep the adults on their toes (though it could be a problem for younger viewers—much of the movie may just go right over their heads). And after seeing this movie, I swear that you’ll never look at a shrimp cocktail the same way again.

Shark Tale may not become an animated classic that’s adored by all for generations to come, but it’s still a fun movie with plenty of laughs.

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