I was about negative two years old in 2004, which is a shame because it was a banger year for movies. We had hits like The Grudge, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper, Howl’s Moving Castle and the infamous Shark Tale. This is one of those movies that’s often put into the “so bad it’s good” category, but I truly do believe it’s one of the most influential movies my child self ever watched.
Looking at the poster alone, this film is any hyperactive kid’s dream. The colors are bright and obnoxious in a way you just don’t see in movies these days. I also think this is one of the only movies to do a “floating head” style poster without it looking stupid. It shows off all the characters and their personalities instead of just showing all the famous people in the film.
That being said, this is a star-studded movie. The main cast features Will Smith, Jack Black, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie and Martin Scorsese among others. While I’m normally opposed to the trend of casting celebrities rather than actual voice actors for animated movies, this one really pulls it off. Each person feels genuinely attached to their character and their voices all fit them perfectly.
Will Smith is a special stand out as the main character, Oscar. He’s not afraid to be weird with it, and he gets into character ridiculously well. Not that I’d expect anything less from the Fresh Prince himself, but still.
Aside from the casting, I think this movie holds its own really well. It has a good point to make, as any self-respecting kids movie should, and it knows how to balance laughs and serious lessons.
The movie, of course, mainly focuses on Oscar and his rise to fame through somewhat dubious means. It tells people to be happy with what they have, and while you can and should strive to be the best version of yourself, you shouldn’t lose who you are to get to that point. It’s hard to derive a real meaning from a movie about fish operating a whale wash and fighting a weird shark mafia, but I think it does its best.
I’m well aware that most of my affections for this movie are based on rose-colored nostalgia that I have from watching it when I was younger, but I do still think that if anything, it’s a hilarious movie. Any fish lovers out there who are looking for an easy-to-watch PG film this summer should definitely hit up Shark Tale.
