For far too long, “Shark Tale” has been slandered, dismissed and completely disregarded by critics as nothing more than a cheap attempt at cashing in on their competitors’ success with “Finding Nemo.” Audiences likely wrote it off as nothing more than a bizarre fever dream of a film possessing an unnecessarily stacked cast. But let me tell you the truth: “Shark Tale” is an over-hated gem, and I will die on this hill. “Shark Tale” is not just some animated movie. This movie is “The Godfather” with all the societal allegory of “Zootopia.” This movie tackles issues of self-worth and class discrimination. All of these things fit together in a way that is not only hilarious but also delivering an uncomfortable truth about how many people feel. “Shark Tale” is undoubtedly a member of the upper echelon of movies and if you cannot see it, allow me to show you.
The story of “Shark Tale” follows Oscar, voiced by Will Smith. Oscar is not just a fish that can talk, he is a fish that can rap. He is broke, working a dead-end job and is the only fish under the sea that is drowning. Now, he is not drowning in water, he is drowning in debt. It becomes very clear to us early on that Oscar dreams of living a greater life and is willing to do anything to achieve success.
A prominent criticism of “Shark Tale” is that Oscar is not a good main character. While I do agree with that, I would also add that that is the intention of Oscar being the way that he is. Oscar sucks. He lies, he cheats and he makes terrible choices all in the effort to chase fame, to chase the life that he dreams of. His journey is overcoming those bad tendencies because he does not need them. The point of this film is that what makes you valuable is not your social and economic status but instead is the loved ones that you surround yourself with. By the end of the film, Oscar no longer needs those bad tactics to help him get ahead in life.
Let us talk about our secondary lead, Lenny the vegetarian shark, voiced by Jack Black. He might also be known as the greatest character to have ever been put to the big screen. Lenny is the son of a mob boss, voiced by Robert De Niro because of course he is, but Lenny does not want to be a predator. He wants to exist as himself in a world that says he is not allowed to.
Does that sound familiar? It should because it is the same theme in “Zootopia,” but “Shark Tale” did it first. Lenny’s story is about abandoning society’s expectation that your identity is not determined by your family or your biology. Lenny fakes his own death, disguises himself as a dolphin and chooses his own path in life, all while being the most hilarious and lovable character in the movie.
That is right, you have read this correctly. I am telling you that “Shark Tale” is not just funny but is a brilliant social commentary. The entire movie is about Oscar, a fish with a low income dreaming of the high life, the sharks are the elite, running the world from out of view. The whale wash is literally, not even allegorically, a minimum wage hole for Oscar to dig out of. Oscar’s role in this film is used as a perfect metaphor for the illusion of social mobility. His rise and fall show us how he went from thinking that fame would make him happy to realizing that those at the top are just as trapped as he is. This is a beautiful societal critique and, yet, people have the gall to call this movie garbage.
To reiterate and finalize my argument, “Shark Tale” is far more than just some goofy fish mafia movie. This film is a hilarious and deep social critique. It tackles the struggles of class, disparity, feelings of self-worth and where we find our identity. Best of all it approaches all of these subjects with more finesse than some more recent Oscar-winning dramas. If you have dismissed this movie in the past, it is time for you to make a change in your life. Watch this movie with fresh eyes and truly enjoy its art. This film is by no means a masterpiece, but it is certainly far greater a movie than most give it credit for.
