THE POUT-POUT FISH Swims Through Familiar Familial Waters

Introduction

Viva Kids, the studio that brought you Charlie the Wonderdog, is back with The Pout-Pout Fish. Based on the series of books written by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna, The Pout-Pout Fish stars the voice talents of Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation, The Life of Chuck), Nina Oyama (Taskmaster: Australia), Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Jordin Sparks (American Idol), Remy Hii (Harrow), and Amy Sedaris (Strangers With Candy). 

Synopsis

The Pout-Pout Fish opens on an underwater reef community, starting their day. A radio announcer celebrates its beauty as traffic buzzes, commerce bustles, and friendly greetings abound. That is, until the appearance of the Pout-Pout Fish (Offerman). Fun fact: that’s his name! Every other fish gets a proper name. However, the Pout-Pout Fish is referred to as “Mr. Fish” by those addressing him. It’s weird.

After returning home from his morning visit to the hardware store, this time with a “Go Away” sign under his fin, he finds a plucky sea dragon named Pip (Oyama) in his house, helping herself to his kelp curtains. Pip needs to spruce up her home as her parents are expecting a few new offspring. Somewhere upwards of a thousand or so. In the ensuing negotiation, both parties find their houses destroyed. Throwing their chips in on a miracle, they join forces to find Shimmer (Sparks), an elusive fish of unparalleled beauty imbued with the power to grant wishes.

Below the reef, where the kelp is growing so thick that the sun is almost completely blotted out, lives a large community of cuttlefish, led by Marin (Otto) and her heir Benji (Hii). Aware that their livelihood will vanish with the sun, Marin prepares to lead the cuttlefish to usurp the community above, unconcerned with those who will be displaced. Seeking a more harmonious compromise, Benji sneaks off to find Shimmer, himself, to wish for the seaweed to dissipate.

Discussion

With their disparate, desperate races against time begun, Mr. Fish, Pip, and Benji all chase down leads from the starfish community, here characterized as international spies. Each starfish speaks with a European accent and communicates with the others through echo, spreading information, gossip, and secrets throughout the ocean. Looking oddly like Mr. Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas, they exchange their intel with the principals for assurances of their own goals.

What follows is a romp through the undersea Outback, from Jellyfish Junction to Crystal Cove and beyond, each location revealing potential new friends… or foes. Herein lies the film’s message: Mr. Pout-Pout Fish, burned by years of rejection because he appears unapproachable, is of the school of thought that “we shouldn’t talk to fish we don’t know.” Pip believes every opportunity to meet someone new results in a new friend. Their philosophies clash as they bounce from friend to foe to friend, eventually culminating in a showdown when our pair finds Shimmer at the same time as Benji. A struggle for power sets up the climax that ties the film together in saccharine notes of family-friendly Happily Ever Afters.

Featuring a gloomy Gus who spreads the dreary weariness paired with an exuberant, youthful fount of optimism at its core, it’s easy to compare The Pout-Pout Fish with another enduring underwater tale of mismatched heroes. The similarities compound when you note the astounding number of Australian voice actors in the cast and a core message that a fish’s appearance doesn’t dictate their personality. (Let’s face it: Marlin was categorically unfunny in Finding Nemo.) While these comparisons could be a demerit for The Pout-Pout Fish from a critical standpoint, many viewers will find it to be a strength.

Conclusion

Honestly, if your kids (or even you) liked Finding Nemo, you’ll likely enjoy The Pout-Pout Fish. The film is buoyant, colorful, and fun from start to finish. Offerman is characteristically delightful, particularly in an altered state after a jellyfish sting leaves him loopy, allowing a familiar spotting of his trademark girlish laugh. Oyama’s youthful cheer is infectious, propelling both story and viewer forward through the adventure. The antagonists are more obstacles than opponents, keeping things light and breezy throughout, and the film’s lessons carry more weight than the source material’s. 

The Pout-Pout Fish is a fun film for both young and old, even if it does seem a bit familiar. The voice cast is all excellent, especially the inclusion of Amy Sedaris as a trio of Mean Girls-inspired dolphins who terrorize the principals. There are a few questionable references for the adult viewers that seem at odds with the film’s tone, but not at the cost of overall enjoyment. The wider cast of characters is utilized economically, the film ending with just the right amount of hard-earned wisdom and warmth.

The Pout-Pout Fish is in theaters on Friday, March 20th.