Directors: Ricard Cussó, Rio Harrington
Writers: Elise Allen, Elie Choufany, Dominic Morris, Deborah Diesen (based on the book by)
Art Director: Nathan Geppert
Editing: Ahmad Halimi
Music: Ack Kinmonth
The world of The Pout-Pout Fish is vibrant, full of characters and life. The film’s opening ten minutes create this, but somehow it loses its charm as its lead characters head off on an adventure.
The Pout Pout Fish (Nick Offerman) has grown up to fear and live in seclusion. Until he meets a Sea Dragon (Nina Oyama) who was attempting to move into his home. Shenanigans ensue: the home is lost, and the two need to find a way to get it back and create another for The Sea Dragons’ incoming hundred siblings. The answer to this is a rumoured magical fish that can grant wishes. And off we go on an underwater adventure.
You will think of Finding Nemo at least a little bit while watching The Pout Pout Fish. The film’s adventure, setting and Australian cast and location are sure to ignite those feelings, for better or worse. My biggest criticism of the Australian-ism of this particular story is that it doesn’t lean into it enough. There are a few jokes and plenty of voice cast to establish the Australian setting, with Oyama joined by the likes of Miranda Otto, Mark Coles Smith, Nazeem Hussain, Anne Edmonds and others, but, I assume, wanting to target that larger international audience, the film plays it a bit off with its references and jokes. There’s a Mean Girls joke in here, for example: “stop trying to make Finn happen.” But who is that for? It’s not for the kids and goes against some of the other, more Australian-targeted humour.
How The Pout Pout Fish manages to balance its pacing, odd selection, and somewhat noncommittal tone is what holds it back most of the time. There are sparks at times, but more often than not, the film spends most of its runtime just tittering along at this just not quite there balance. Not just in comedy, either, the film’s message, although clear, never has a big sentimental moment that works. It expects you to understand, but doesn’t do what the best family animated films do in these elements and truly speak from the heart.
Animation-wise, the film looks good, but not mind-blowing. The voice cast is generally very good, however, and a huge saving grace for what’s missing in the script.
The Pout-Pout Fish is playing in theatres around America on March 20.
(Screener provided to Explosion Network.
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