Shark Tale DVD is a visually appealing, fantastic voyage into the deep-sea world of shrimp, shipwrecks and yes, sharks. This exquisitely dazzling display of animated wonder is filled with cocky diminutive fish, graffiti painted whales, a pair of sharp-tongued Rastafarian jellyfish and a gay vegetarian teenage shark. The animation created by Dreamworks is over the top. Shark Tale is an ocean of colorful characters and creatures that shimmer and glisten with every water current and every change in light. If you saw the movie on the big screen you must see the movie again and this time see it at home. Turn all the lights off, turn up the soundtrack and you will be overwhelmed and delighted by the colorful spectacle in front of you. Shark Tale is no ordinary animated movie, but a generational leap into what lies ahead for cartoon animated stories.

It is true that animation has conquered and has become part of the pop culture of our times. Shrek, Toy Story, Finding Nemo and others have worked their charm and magic into the mind and hearts of everyone who has seen these true gems of sophisticated story telling. Shark Tale is no Nemo however. Where Finding Nemo won our hearts with a father’s search for his little son, Shark Tale has no such character to love. Where Shrek and Toy Story are examples of sensitive intelligent storytelling, Shark Tale is neither sensitive nor intelligent. There is a mish-mash of scenes that play out randomly in Shark Tale. A disjointed and disconnected group of characters that stumble around from one scene to the next with barely a connection between them. A central lead character that is made a hero from his lies and a pool of stereotypes that give offense to just about every ethnic group on the planet. There are the hip-hopping jellyfish that don’t seem to work much, the Italian mob boss out for blood, the German counselor, and a host of others that look like fools and misfits. While we were enthralled by a toy’s universal desire to belong in Toy Story, we are repelled at what takes place in Shark Tale.

What’s not to love in Shark Tale you ask? Well, the story is another Will Smith vehicle to show his comedic talents and his quick-witted tongue. But in the end, Smith takes the movie for a ride, crashing and burning at every turn. Smith plays Oscar, a small fry, arrogant fish with a big mouth who washes whales in a car wash type of business. Oscar is a loser banking on schemes for fame and glory but ignores the adoration and love of fellow co-worker Angie (Renée Zellweger). Oscar gambles away the pearl heirloom Angie gives him to pay off a debt to his boss, lies about killing a shark felled by an anchor and indulges in unearned hedonistic excess by adoring fans that are unwilling to defend themselves against invading sharks. What's not to love indeed?

For in the end, after 90 minutes of watching a movie that is a mind numbing, frenetic display of animated wonder, I felt cheated for not having anyone to like or root for. Writers Damian Shannon, Mark Swift, and Michael J. Wilson have created a story replete with unsympathetic characters and disastrous connections. The car wash metaphor for whales is a truly genuine addition to the story and it lets ocean creatures be like ocean creatures. But lava lamps, elevators, cigars, curtains and streetlamps go a bit too far and become not only unbelievable but also senseless.

But above all, are the product placements and the pandering to existing sponsors that is unsettling and just plain out of place. Coca Cola, Krispy Kreme Donuts, The Gap, McDonalds and others make their way into the story in some form or another. And if that weren’t enough, the chief reporter who breaks the story of Oscar’s whale killing deed is none other than Katie Curic who plays a fish snoop for a big time broadcasting company.