From the makers of the overrated Shrek arrives Dreamworks own answer to the success of Finding Nemo. Although not a box office smash in the vein of Finding Nemo (staggeringly the most successful animated movie of all time, without logic), it is essentially a very different kettle of fish (pun intended). With a stellar cast including the likes of Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese, Renne Zelwegger and Will Smith in the leading roles, does Shark Tale manage to swim to shore, or sink without a trace?

Lessons have been learnt from the success of Finding Nemo, and Dreamworks have attempted to pull out all the stops visually. Whereas the ocean looked realistic, the everyday antics of fish seemed rather typical. Shark Tale turns the ocean reef into a fish metropolis, with businesses, entertainment in the form of cinemas, large display screens in the central area – it’s New York underwater, less the drab, ugliness of the city. So it is, that Shark Tale is not trying to be finding Nemo, and working the fishy tale from a different angle.

For myself, I found Finding Nemo a chore. I fell asleep watching it, and found my younger brother was unable to keep focused on the screen. It was a sleep inducing DVD that really should be marketed towards insomniacs like myself – 30 minutes of watching it and it would perhaps put you in coma for at least a week. Ironically, Shark Tale had me much more entertained. It’s a fast paced, entertaining run-of-the-mill animation. By run of the mill, I mean the story is nothing that hasn’t been regurgitated ad nauseum. By comparison Finding Nemo was wonderfully refreshing, even if it’s only suitable for those that are the living dead.

Oscar (Will Smith) is an aspiring fish, wanting to make the big and be a somebody. Living the luxurious life of a whale cleaner, his boss Syke (Martin Scorsese) is called in by The Godfather (Robert De Niro) to look after his two boys Lenny (Jack Black) and Frankie (Michael Imperioli) who are expected to take over the business after he passes away. Lenny however is a vegetarian shark and on the rather over-sensitive side. WHen his brother is killed, Oscar happens to be in the area and claims the kill as his own. A lie which, of course, snowballs from a speck to a mountain and endangers the entire underground city from the wrath of the The Godfather.

Shark Tale had me much more entertained. It’s a fast paced, entertaining run-of-the-mill animation

Shark Tale is a glitzy, glamourous film with big name stars, commerical soundtracks, and in-film advertising. It comes across as too sugar coated, too friendly, empty and without a soul. It’s just like any other big blockbuster from America, and just as devoid of any real character or emoton. Finding Nemo (for all it’s fault of being dull) took normal fish and added a human depth, with feelings that seemed genuine; remorse; guilt; happiness; hatred; love and so on. Shark Tale provides superficiality as emotion and therefore never manages to come close to the personification that Finding Nemo has managed.

Now, I’m not exceptionally fond of either film, and perhaps it was a case of me needing a rest from the several rather serious films I watched of late, but I actualy enjoyed Shark Tale. I admit, it’s dull and tedious at times, but I didn’t fall asleep through this one. Will Smith and even Angelina Jolie were likable for the first time, in their CGI form. Zellwegger doesn’t really have a part to play and is essentially the damsel. Black as Lenny was pretty hilarious, even if the script was rather stale. What’s equally enjoyable is the likeness of the CGI characters to their characters – having said that, they sound less like characters and more like themselves, so I wonder if they were acting, or just saying what they really felt. Finding Nemo and a charming quirkiness about it which is simply missing from Shark Tale, but the latter is also a lot more fun than the former.

All in all, Shark Tale is OK. It will appeal to young children and entertain them, because it links in with the commericalism and braindead MTV generation, as well as the kids that are growing up with CGI focused movies. Finding Nemo was probably too smart for them, and Shark Tale is too dumbed down. It’s the quick, McDonald’s like accessibility that makes the film appealing. Tune in, tune out, and forget about it.

Verdict: Without the intelligence of Finding Nemo, or the witty humour of Shrek, Shark Tale sits with the other Sunday afternoon films