Shark Bait (The Reef) (2006)

34% of users liked it
(2,462 ratings)

As a shoestring-budget clone of the A-list animated features Finding Nemo and A Shark Tale, the U.S.-Korean co-production The Reef constitutes yet another CG-animated picture about the 'little fish that could.' The piscine in question is the cleverly-named Pi (voice of Freddie Prinze, Jr.), orphaned… More As a shoestring-budget clone of the A-list animated features Finding Nemo and A Shark Tale, the U.S.-Korean co-production The Reef constitutes yet another CG-animated picture about the 'little fish that could.' The piscine in question is the cleverly-named Pi (voice of Freddie Prinze, Jr.), orphaned when his parents are caught by a net off of Boston harbor. Adopted by a family of porpoises, Pi later swims a great distance to a tropical reef to live with his Aunt Pearl (voice of Fran Drescher), a psychic fish. He also falls in love with the supermodel fish Cordelia (voice of Evan Rachel Wood), who is promptly kidnapped by the brutish shark Troy (Donal Logue). She agrees to wed the shark if he resists the urge to kill Pi. We won't be spoiling the fun or ruining any surprises to reveal that Pi soon hatches an elaborate rescue plan. Andy Dick, Rob Schneider and John Rhys-Davies provide additional voices. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Howard E. Baker, John Fox
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jul 7, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Oct 9, 2007
Studio: Silver Nitrate Releasing

Critic Reviews

Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
It was called Shark Bait in some territories, but The Reef is a much better title for this colourful and family friendly animated ocean tale
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
Tetrimmena gags ki adynames ypoplokes poy emfanizontai ki eksafanizontai horis synohi i synepeia, prospathoyn apegnosmena na gemisoyn ti diarkeia enos animation apati
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
One of the cheapest, ugliest cartoon features ever produced.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Sanjaya &

Well, I must admit that this movie just want to follow the success of Finding Nemo, or perhaps Shark Tale... The animation wasn't bad at all, at least the idea for the story was pretty fun... But what happens after the movie flows is it just a high expectation movie from the… More
Well, I must admit that this movie just want to follow the success of Finding Nemo, or perhaps Shark Tale... The animation wasn't bad at all, at least the idea for the story was pretty fun... But what happens after the movie flows is it just a high expectation movie from the makers, but they really really didn't have anything at all... The fish was cute and funny, but their face just looks like too 'human', similar like Shark Tale do... If it's a fish, so their face should be a fish face too, not fish with a face of a human... Then the story, I think the idea didn't bad... About how male fish gave a pearl to female fish to propose her and then the female fish will accept the pearl if she wants to be with that male fish forever... That thing was pretty good I think, even I don't know if it's really true or not... But when the story going, it just a disaster... Some scenes that made to be funny, wasn't really funny at all... Yet there is too many conversation in this movie, which could be so boring for the kids that watching it... Last word, a nice try from the makers, especially after knowing that they can get Freddie Prinze Jr., Rob Schneider and Evan Rachel Wood for a voice cast of this movie, but it just a usual cartoon that a little too heavy for the children...
Red L

Why is that so many animated movies are so simple. Good little fish learns self defence and beats the bad shark, gets the girl and lives happily ever after -- whoo hoo.
Deb S

It`s like Finding Nemo in reverse whereby the parents get taken away and Pi is left behind. He sees and falls in love with Cordelia, a pink female fish who has attracted the unwanted attentions of a bullying tiger shark Troy and his two cronies, a barracuda and a wolf eel. Pi learns… More
It`s like Finding Nemo in reverse whereby the parents get taken away and Pi is left behind. He sees and falls in love with Cordelia, a pink female fish who has attracted the unwanted attentions of a bullying tiger shark Troy and his two cronies, a barracuda and a wolf eel. Pi learns that Troy is a true nightmare for the inhabitants of the reef, and that nobody has enough courage to stop him. He meets a wise sea turtle, Nerrisa, who teaches him some kind of martial arts and other stuff, so Pi could win the heart of Cordelia and beat the bad guys in the process, creating a better and safer new order! The animation was appalling but with its brilliant color schemes the little kids should enjoy this one. And Pi's "psychic" aunt voiced by Fran Drescher was a hoot. Shark Bait's cast also includes R. Lee Ermey; John Rhys-Davies; Donal Logue; Rob Schneider, Andy Dick, Evan Rachel Wood and Freddie Prinze Jr.