Opened: October 1, 2004

Directed by: Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron & Rob Letterman

Starring: Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese, Ziggy Marley, Doug E. Doug, Michael Imperioli, Vincent Pastore, Peter Falk, Katie Couric, David P. Smith, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Kamali Minter, Emily Lyon Segan, Shelley Morrison, David Soren, Sean Bishop, Missy Elliott & Christina Aguilera

Shark Tale is a light comedy with some mobster elements. But between its familiar storyline and, unfortunately, being released a year and a half after Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Shark Tale is a joke that’s forgotten quickly.

Lenny (Jack Black) is a vegetarian shark that can’t live up to the menacing personality his father Don Lino (Robert De Niro) wants him to. Oscar (Will Smith) is a lowly fish that dreams of wealth and fame. A chance incident connects Lenny and Oscar to give them what they both want – if they can keep up their lies.

De Niro’s Don Lino and Renée Zellweger’s Angie are the two most enjoyable characters. They give levels and help drive the story better than the leads. However, Black’s Lenny might be gay-coded, which adds an interesting edge.

Final say: Sleep with the fishes. ★★★☆☆