MIMO Studios and Like A Photon Creative present an animated adaptation of the New York Times best-selling children’s book, The Pout-Pout Fish.
The animated film version of this story stays true to the beloved book series, which emphasizes friendship, feeling your emotions, and learning to change your perspective and choose to overcome negativity. The fact that they got Nick Offerman to voice Mr. Fish was a big win. The rest of the cast all sound Australian, even American actress Amy Sedaris, who voices one of the “Pink Dolphins,” embraces the Australian twang. So if your kids like the very popular animated TV series Bluey, they’ll probably get a kick out of the way this film sounds.
The basic premise of this film is that two mismatched fish, the Pouty Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) and the upbeat, super-friendly little sea dragon Pip (Nina Oyama), go on what seems like an impossible quest to find the magical “Simmer” fish (Jordin Sparks) that can grant one wish. Theirs is to save their homes.
They must battle the elements, hungry pink dolphins, and a cuttlefish named Benji (Remy Hii) who is willing to do anything to have that shimmer wish to save his home first. Along the way, Mr. Fish’s pessimistic ‘don’t get involved in other people’s problems’ attitude is tested by brave Pip’s belief that you should always help friends stuck under a rock, and they will help you when you’re stuck under a rock.
The Pout-Pout Fish is a fast-paced, fun film with great music and wholesome themes, delivered in a sing-songy way to kids. If I were the creators, I would have kept it at a G rating, since its core audience is so young. Because it earned its PG rating for a few scary scenes in which characters are threatened with being eaten. I expect a few children to have trouble falling asleep after seeing this film. But only the very young ones; everybody else will enjoy this bright-colored, lively film.
I give The Pout -Pout Fish 3.5 stars. It would have gotten a higher rating, but they made a big misstep by turning it into a PG-rated film. They should have trusted that there were enough book fans to keep it at a super clean, safe G rating.
Directed by: Richard Cussó, Rio Harrington
Written by: Elise Allen, Elie Choufany, Deborah Diesen
Rated: PG
Running Time: 1 h 32 min
Computer animation, sea adventure, family film
Release: In theaters March 20th
Starring: Nick Offerman, Miranda Ott, Amy Sedaris, Nina Oyama