Shark Tale (DVD 2005 Full Frame) (0678149195620)

Will Smith brings hip-hop zest to the voice of Oscar a fast-talking everyfish who rejects his life at the whale wash and longs for fortune and fame in this animated film from Dreamworks. A combination of FINDING NEMO and GOODFELLAS here sharks are old-school gangsters who prey on the local citizenry and hang out in the wreck of the Titanic. Martin Scorsese does the voice of Mr. Sykes Oscar's blowfish boss who owes head Shark Don Lino (Robert De Niro) a lot of clams. Don Lino wants to turn over his reign to his two sons but youngest Lenny (Jack Black) is a closet vegetarian. The plot thickens when Oscar takes credit for the accidental death of Lenny's brother and suddenly finds the fame and fortune he's been seeking only it's based on the lie that he's "the shark slayer." It's tough not to like this spunky fish story especially with Scorsese and De Niro verbally one-upping each other in some hilarious bits. Also noteworthy: a pair of hilariously mellow Rastafarian jellyfish (Ziggy Marley and Doug E. Doug) and Peter Falk as an old Tiger Shark who hangs around the Titanic crooning "My Heart Will Go On." Renee Zellweger and Angelina Jolie are the females--one pure of heart one a "fish fatale"-- battling over Oscar's affection. In addition to all that there should be enough goofy humor action and goofing to keep the kids riveted.