Full Review

With a script as unwieldy as its title, this clever, but ultimately flat, yarn centers on the eponymous Jacques Cousteauesque explorer (played in delightful deadpan by Bill Murray). Along with his oddball, red-capped crew, he sets out with Ahab-like determination -- aboard his ramshackle retrofitted World War II minesweeper called the "Bellafonte" -- to hunt down the shark that ate his partner (Seymour Cassel) on their last underwater expedition.

During the journey, Zissou must also navigate rough emotional waters and come to terms with a new deckhand, Ned (Owen Wilson), who may, or may not, be the long-lost son he never got to know, all while filming the entire adventure as part of the latest documentary of "The Zissou Society."

Also on board are Willem Dafoe as Zissou's scene-stealing German first mate and a very pregnant Cate Blanchett as a journalist assigned to cover the voyage for an oceanography magazine. Both Zissou and Ned fall for her. She chooses the younger of the two, causing waves between father and could-be son.

Rounding out the eccentric ensemble are Anjelica Huston as Zissou's brilliant but vampish wife, Jeff Goldblum as his nautical nemesis, and Michael Gambon as his loyal longtime film producer. Directed by Wes Anderson, this Melvillian revenge tale doesn't have much wind in its sails. The narrative takes on water during a plot detour involving a sidebar mission to rescue a character kidnapped by pirates in one of the movie's sillier -- and unnecessarily violent -- sequences. However, the film manages to stay afloat for the most part, thanks to the good performances from its talented cast.

Though the quirky film once again exhibits Anderson's droll flair for the odd and slightly absurd, "The Life Aquatic" -- by far his most ambitious project to date -- lacks the overall sharpness of his earlier, more modest works like "Rushmore" and "Bottle Rocket." It may leave fans of the director disappointed. And while the movie is not without its genuinely funny moments, for the most part, laughs prove as elusive as the shark after which Zissou is questing.

Beneath the picture's colorfully comic veneer, there is an undercurrent of pathos, which bubbles up to the surface as Anderson explores themes of regret and redemption.

Tossing realism overboard, Anderson's ocean is teeming with imaginatively animated aquatic life (designed and created by Henry Selick), including a jumbo "Indiglo" Jaws, who makes a splash in the movie's "Yellow Submarine" inspired ending. Too bad the rest of the film isn't as good.

Still, with so few original voices breaking above the din of blockbuster banality, it may be worth taking a plunge into "The Life Aquatic."

Some strong violence, recreational drug use, an implied sexual encounter, an instance of brief gratuitous nudity, much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.

Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.