A Shrek Tale

Shark Tale and Shrek have made money for DreamWorks, but years from now it's only the green ogre who will be remembered.

DreamWorks is hoping it's latest computer animated hit, Shark Tale, can be as successful as it's biggest animated movie Shrek. I, however, do not think it will happen. Both films are filled with celebrity voices and rapid-fire jokes. Both movies also have the same moral lesson; to be happy with who you are. It is in the delivery of this moral that dramatically separates the two movies.

In Shrek, Shrek is happy being an unlikable ogre from the very first scene. It is everyone else who has issues with him. Oscar, from Shark Tale, is not happy being a whale washer, even though everyone around him is perfectly accepting of it.

Shrek wants nothing to do with society. He is perfectly content with his simple surroundings. He only wishes to maintain his life style that is being threatened by an obtrusive government. Oscar wants wealth by any means possible, except actually showing up on time and working hard.

Shrek sets out on a long and dangerous journey to accomplish his goal. He has to fight the king’s guards and a fire-breathing dragon. Oscar lies and steals to get ahead. He tells everyone he is a shark slayer, which he is not. He borrows money that he appears to have no intention of ever paying back, that's called stealing.

By the end of the movie, Shrek's hard work has paid off. He has a new best friend, a girlfriend and his home back. Oscar gets a new best friend, the girl and an understanding that his job is not so bad after all.

The huge difference is that through hard work and diligence, Shrek made his dreams come true. Oscar's dream likewise came true, only he didn't lift a finger to earn any of it. He lied to everyone, but in the end, he still gets everything he wanted.

The message in Shrek is to be true to yourself and not worry what other people think of you. If you are happy being who you are then other people's judgment means nothing. In Shark Tale, the message is that stepping on other people is okay as long as you learn a lesson in the end.

The Shrek moral is delivered brilliantly. Shrek's action changes other people’s opinion of him. By being a good person, people learn to see him for what he does and not how he looks. Oscar does lots of things wrong that eventually teaches him to change his outlook on life.

The problem with the moral in Shark Tale is that Oscar never really works for it. Even after his lies endanger the life of his girlfriend, everything is fine. There are no repercussions for his poor judgment. He actually gets rewarded for doing wrong.

Shark Tale may go on to make a ton of money but, in my opinion, it will never become the classic that Shrek will.