 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Shark Tale
- Review Date: February 6, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Fast, fresh, funny action comedy set undersea.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the plot involves the death of one of the characters, the son and brother of two other characters. This may be upsetting to some viewers. The characters are all so vivid that there may be a Bambi-reaction; some viewers may want to become vegetarians like Lenny. There is also some mild peril and tension. In addition, the movie has some mildly crude humor and a bit of schoolyard language.
What's the story?
Oscar (voice of Will Smith) is a little fish who dreams of fame and fortune. When his blowfish boss, Sykes (voice of Martin Scorsese) says he needs the $5000 Oscar owes him, pretty receptionist Angie (voice of Renee Zellweger) gives him her family heirloom pearl, which Oscar sells, but then loses the money gambling. Sykes' Rasta-jellyfish henchmen (voices of Doug E. Doug and Ziggy Marley) take Oscar out to rough him up, but a mix-up occurs in which Sykes henchmen believe that Oscar has killed a shark, and the little fish returns home as the celebrated "The Shark Slayer." Oscar enjoys the high life until the sharks come searching for him. Meanwhile, shark Lenny (voice of Jack Black) runs away from home because he can't be a predator like his pop (voice of Robert De Niro) and the other sharks. Lenny teams up with Oscar. They decide stage a fight in which Oscar will pretend to kill Lenny, then the sharks will be too scared to come after Oscar. And Lenny can start a new life. But it's not a very good plan, as Lenny and Oscar soon find out.
Is it any good?
This hip-hop/mob action comedy set undersea is fast, fresh, fun, and finny ... er, funny. Okay, you watch the movie and see if you don't come out making silly jokes like that. This isn't a classic like Finding Nemo or Shrek, but it throws so much at you so fast you will be too busy enjoying yourself to notice.
The plot is nothing special, but the visuals are, with eye-popping color and wonderfully expressive fish faces, hilariously funny and surprisingly touching. The voice talent is top-notch and the animators have managed to bring the essence of the actors to the characters. Don Lido has De Niro's birthmark on his cheek and Oscar has Smith's eyes and mouth. There are dozens of gags and pop-cultural references and some bright musical numbers that keep things moving briskly, with a remake of the Rose Royce "Car Wash" song by Missy Elliot and Christina Aguilera a highlight.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why fame and fortune are so important to Oscar. Why is it so hard for him to realize that Lola is not sincere? They could also talk about why it is so hard for Oscar to see how Angie feels about him -- and how he feels about her. It is also worth discussing how sometimes people like Lenny can have a hard time feeling accepted and loved for who they are. What can friends and family do to support them?
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AGE
VERY Disappointing
This movie is NOT for small children. In fact, I have a hard time deciding who this movie is for. In one word this move was ghetto. Hip-hop? Maybe. I'm very disappointed that Will Smith (whom I adore) would make such a movie. The plot is weak, it's laden with sexual innuendo (Lola) and the general theme really emphasized all you DON'T want your small children to learn. I can appreciate the entertainment value of the movie - but not for very small children. I suppose this movie is for 11-13 year olds??
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AGE
Sexy, manipulative fish and mob humor for kids?
This movie was visually interesting, but my kids were dizzy by the end of it. There is so much adult humor and adult references that much of it was lost on the kids, and shocking to me. Furthermore, I don't think that a slinky sexy fish charcater, nor mob humor and mob character take-offs are appropriate or funny for my 6, 8, and 10 year olds. It was a frenetic movie with fast scene-changes, a culture icon-catering stereotypical take-off of nothing. I think it missed not only its audience, but a potential to reach sensitive kids.
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AGE
Underwater film is okay for kids
An okay film, not my favorite Dreamworks movie but it's good (an it had Will Smith in it so it had to be good!)
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AGE
great movie
little kids and olders will enjoy watching this, i have the movie but it was awesome!
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AGE
not as good as shrek or finding nemo
i only parts i think are conserning is some kissing and one charactar gets killed by an anchor
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AGE
hmmmm....gambling, love interests, a death, torture via jelly fish stings...this is not a movie for little kids. My elementry school child saw only a few scenes but was totally upset about the jelly fish abusing the shrimp - he would need therapy if he watched the entire thing. Most of us try to teach our kids not to hit and kick others...given this, does it make sense that we allow all this violent garbage to pass for kids entertainment?
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Kid, 11 years old
August 11, 2011
AGE
Undersea Fun
A great movie that brings plenty of undersea fun. If your child is very sensitive, in one scene a character dies.
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AGE
a undersea comedy for kids falls flat
This movie is stupid and boring. I hate it. Finding Nemo was better and much cuter than this. I hate it. Skip it
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| Topics: | ocean creatures |
| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Directors: | Eric Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson |
| Cast: | Renee Zellweger, Robert De Niro, Will Smith |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 1, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | February 8, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some mild language and crude humor |
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