Shark Tale is the story of a young fish, named Oscar (Will Smith, I, Robot), who wants to be a "somebody." Oscar's fortunes are reversed when everyone - both fish and sharks alike - to believe that he is the "sharkslayer." Through this lie, Oscar becomes a celebrity. However, this comparatively physically lacking fish is now expected to fight pissed off and powerful sharks. The movie has a positive and energetic ambience. The computer animations are visually snappy. We get to see a veritable cornucopia of bright, lively images right down to small details, such as the Jessica Shrimpton, and Cod Stuart starfish on the boardwalk of the fish's reef. Like its Dreamworks predecessor, Shrek, Shark Tale has been bathed in the glow of Hollywood culture to make an animated film part of a new genre that appeals to adult as well as child audiences.

The fishy reincarnations of Hollywood notables are charming and funny. Martin Scorsese's (Gangs of New York) Sykes the blowfish possesses his trademark bushy eyebrows. Angelina Jolie's (Tomb Raider) sexy fish Lola has fishlips and a long, hair-like fin. Ernie the jellyfish, played by reggae artist, Ziggy Marley, looks as if he has dreadlocks. Not only do the characters look like the actors, but their most famous roles and the public-aspects of their personality are channeled through the animated counterpart. The main character, Oscar, is Will Smith basically the same character he played in the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The "Will" persona - lighthearted and entertaining - was immensely popular in the series and proves to be just as loveable in the animated role.

Despite the appeal of such references, the whole movie feels slapped together largely because of the reliance on outside sources of entertainment. The personality of Shark Tale comes from references to actors and films, down to the shiny, active visuals rooted in Hollywood-esque lifestyle. The movie does not form its own, sturdy inner core. Although the plot could actually be interesting, the inter-textuality does not strengthen it, but makes it more tired than is has to be. The madcap adventures of the prototypically irresponsible "Will" mirror those of Oscar. The Mobster "Noodles" foreshadows Robert DeNiro's (Analyze This) shark, Don Lino. The story of the vegetarian son of Don Lino mimics a stereotypical coming out story of a gay man.

All of these separate stories do not allow for the coherence of a potentially interesting story about a fish who does not appreciate what he has and, thus, risks it all, and a vegetarian shark, who treasure life, and leaves home because he does not wish to eat meat. Gaping holes result from Shark Tale's lack of its own direction. The plot is not of the most riveting variety since it's fragmented by irrelevant reference. The inter-textuality is often meaningless, and this film has been accused - with merit - of presenting some stereotypical material to kids.

Shark Tale was designed to sustain the interest of both kids and adults, but its punch is underwhelming. Unfortunately, as well as being aesthetically faulty, Shark Tale has cracks in area of political correctness. The movie is worth watching for its superficial qualities, but the film will not stand a second viewing, at least for adults. Do not see this film if non-politically correct, stereotypically filmmaking gets under your skin. You are allowed to object to stereotypes, especially in a PG movie. Do see this movie if you liked Shrek enough to watch a similar if slightly inferior film, enjoy children's motion pictures, and can tolerate the depiction of mobster fish or shark as Italians or a young, "black" fish as a loafer.