‘Shark Tale’ swims in cute, silly satire

If you’ve ever imagined Will Smith as a tropical fish, then you’ll find DreamWork Animation’s rendering in “Shark Tale” to be pretty much dead-on. That in itself is the first big laugh the film provides, followed by many others, hitting on all the submarine and shark clichés one could imagine as well as many quirky ironies that can’t help but make you chuckle.Even those who don’t care for animation will find the humor and artistic twists in “Shark Tale” to be, while not overly ingenious, at least fairly amusing. And if you don’t like animation, but you like Will Smith flicks, then you should definitely give it a fair shot, because “Shark Tale” delivers all the bootie rock and jive talk of “Men in Black” and “Independence Day.”With a celebrity voice-over cast (Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie), you know such icons wouldn’t be talked into talking over a cartoon unless it was something they found worthwhile (although “Shark Tale’s” steady status of No. 1 at the box office indicates that nobody’s pocket books are exactly suffering).”Shark Tale” is set in the underwater metropolis of The Reef, the center of which bares a striking resemblance to Times Square. It chronicles the story of blue-collar Oscar (Will Smith), who is a whale-tongue scrubber at the local whale wash facility run by Mafia stooge puffer fish Mr. Sykes (Martin Scorsese, eyebrows and all), who becomes poofed when under stress and deals with Oscar’s salary advances and debts in a somewhat ruthless manner. His sidekicks are gangly jellyfish Ernie (Doug E. Doug) and Bernie (Ziggy Marley). Their ironic roles as mildly violent henchman and Rastafarian DJs with dangling dreadlocks are, one must admit, rather funny.The film’s spoof on “The Godfather” allows it a whole new realm of Mob satire, which the Great White godfather himself, Don Lino, plays off hilariously under the vocal guidance of Robert De Niro. Lino even sports De Niro’s characteristic mole. With Mr. Sykes and The Reef community under his thumb, Lino’s only pressing problem is his effeminate, vegetarian son Lenny (Jack Black). When Lenny’s bloodthirsty brother Frankie (Michael Imperioli) takes him out into the ocean’s depths to teach him how to be a real shark, the outcome (I don’t want to give it away) results in a Mob funeral (another laughable parody) and the offbeat acquaintance between Oscar and Lenny. Oscar unexpectedly finds himself amid the fame he has so long desired, which brings with it the temptation and seduction of sexy vamp-fish Lola (Angelina Jolie). Oscar’s best friend and whale wash colleague Angie (Renee Zellweger), who has a secret crush on him, doesn’t like the development one bit.The plot culminates to a climax of Great White danger and Mob kidnapping, which has Oscar and Lenny – who have by now refineda false rivalry and public stuntshow for Oscar’s fans – faced with a precarious rescue as well as an unveiling of the truth: Oscar’s illegitimate fame and Lenny’s self-wrought worries of family shame. Directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob Letterman and written by Michael J. Wilson, “Shark Tale” is no “Shrek,” “Ice Age” or “Finding Nemo,” but it contains the same level of silly cheesiness and cute character relationships with a distinctive hiphopflavor. “Shark Tale” is playing at the Riverwalk Theatre in Edwards and at The Capitol Theatre in Eagle. For showtimes, visit http://www.vailmovies.com, or call 476-5661.