★★½ (2½ out of 4)
Here’s an animated movie that will float your boat, especially if you’re really young or in charge of finding something for restless tykes to do on a rainy day. Otherwise, stick to “Zootopia 2” which is hyper enough to keep grownups awake. “The Pout-Pout Fish” takes the Mister Rogers approach to family fare. That means nice and easy does it every time.
The first Pout-Pout Fish book was published in 2008 and was named a top 10 children's book by Time magazine. Since then, author Deborah Diesen has written scores of bestselling spin-offs, with more than 10 million copies sold.
Did the ratings board think Nick Offerman’s fish was pouty enough to off himself? Not on your life. Positive messaging swims will all these fishes.
Now comes the movie, a co-production from Australia and America that doesn’t seem to mind that it can’t hold a candle to Disney animation. Its fan base is built in. Everyone loves the unlovable main character, Mr. Fish, of the pout species, meaning he wears a perpetual frown. He’s also blue in color and temperament. And who better than Nick Offerman of “Parks & Rec” to voice a role that defines grumpy? That is until Mr. Fish learns that his "dreary wearies" may not be permanent.
Anyone reading the news these days can surely relate to the dreary wearies. Luckily, Mr. Fish, who lives in a shipwreck, finds a cheery friend in Pip (Aussie star Nina Oyama), a perpetually perky sea dragon. Never mind that Mr. Fish accidentally destroyed her home. If pouty boy and Pip can find Shimmer (Jordin Sparks)—a mythical fish that grants wishes—her house can be restored before her parents get back with Pip’s siblings. At last count, they numbered over 400. So much for Planned Parenthood.
What a predicament! Other swimmers might get there first, especially Benji (Remy Hii), an orange cuttlefish, who needs his habitat restored before his mother gets home. She’s Marin (Miranda Otto) the leader of the pack and not to be trifled with. There’s also a school of pink dolphins, all voiced by Amy Sedaris in valley-girl speak. We needed more Sedaris.
It’s all hopelessly innocent. Kids past the age of reason may be bored that there are no threats from storms or predators or aliens. “The Pout-Pout Fish” spends precious little time trying to keep adults awake. It worked for the books. But it may be a miscalculation to think that kids raised on Disney’s willingness to raise the stakes with dead parents and other traumas will sit still for something as bland as Mr. Fish learning not to isolate.
“The Pout-Pout Fish,” directed by Aussie animation legend Ricard Cussó from a pun-heavy script by Elise Allen and Elie Choufany, is rated PG out of what must be an overabundance of caution. Did the ratings board think Offerman’s fish was sad enough to off himself? Not on your life. Positive messaging swims will all these fishes. There’s not a demon hunter in sight. Will gamer kids of the 21st century sit still for wholesome fun without the threat of annihilation, or will they hit the snooze button? We shall see. The future of family entertainment depends on it.