Help I'm A Fish [2001]

Amazon.co.uk Review

Help! I'm a Fish is an action-packed, entertaining 78-minute animated feature film, made in Denmark and dubbed for British audiences, starring the vocal talents of distinguished actor Alan Rickman and Monty Python's Terry Jones. The plot is simple but creative. Three children--Fly, Chuck and Stella--are on a clandestine fishing trip, when they stumble upon a mad professor whose potion transforms humans into fish. Stella innocently drinks the liquid, becomes a starfish and is thrown into the ocean. In an attempt to save her, the boys follow suit with Fly changing into a Californian flyfish and Chuck into a jellyfish. The antidote falls into the hands (or fins!) of a pilot fish, Joe, who drinks it and acquires human intelligence, the power of speech, a tyrannical desire for world control and a following of militant crabs. The threesome has 48 hours to retrieve the antidote, or they will remain fish forever. Traditional hand-drawn cartoons are interspersed with more modern computerised animations. The variety of life underwater is beautifully portrayed, adding greatly to the colour and interest of the film. Terry Jones is suitably loopy as Professor MacKrill and Alan Rickman creates a villain to match his baddie roles in Die Hard and Prince of Thieves. There are several key themes including the importance of intelligence, determination and friends and of being kind to animals and respecting the environment.

Overall, this is a fast paced video with catchy songs and the occasional scary moment that will excite and delight children aged four and over. --Tracey Hogan

Customer Reviews:

A litle gem.......2007-12-02

We found this on Kid's TV and myself and my 3 yr old were sucked in from the excellent opening credits. Now I understand it is not Disney but a European production I can understand what is so original about it: from the catchy music, to the warm colour palette, great angles and close ups. All in all it is great fun and very different making it very bearable to watch TV with the kids! Again, surprised it went under the radar

Unexpected.......2004-08-19

As a former animation student (and therefore lifelong animation enthusiast) I was suprised to only hear of this film for the first time about a month ago. I don't even know if it was released here in the US - but perhaps I really did just overlook it. Well, that wouldn't do! I *had* to see it. Since it is only available on region 2 I went ahead and imported it and had my brother convert it for me. So finally, I got to see it the other day.

As the title of this review says, it was unexpected. See, I had also bought the soundtrack and the 'bubblegum pop' on there had warned me that this might wind up to be a really dumb kiddie flick - but as it turned out the songs that had bothered me were either not in the film at all or were so in the background I didn't notice them. Either way, I was proved wrong: this movie is intelligent and emotional and intense in places. I was captivated. As this movie seems to be virtually unknown in the States I am going to personally see to it that all my friends, especially the ones with children, see it. But I think I'll keep the soundtrack to myself. ;)

Help! I'm A Fan!.......2004-03-09

Fjeldmark and Hegner create a stunning sea-scape, in this sweet and funny animated feature, attracting the fine vocal talents of Terry Jones and Alan Rickman. Steering well away from CG animation, this movie impresses with the traditional drawn feel, allowing the viewer some visual breathing space! The vivid backgrounds still manage to amaze though, and blessed with a catchy soundtrack, this is a fishy feast for all!

It's a funny, fishy story.......2002-01-02

I enjoyed this fishy tale because the boy who turns into a jellyfish is so funny. The cartoon picture was superb and I was glued to the tv right to the end. The baddy was really bad! I think other 7 year olds will enjoy it too.

Sheer balderdash.......2001-12-21

This film is exactly the reason 2d animation is dead or dieing. It is unimaginative, formulaic, dramatically inept and condescending to all but the smallest fry in the audience. All the beautiful backgrounds and animation can do nothing to save the film from its fatal flaw. Its story. No wonder it bombed at the box office. If you have money to spend, why not spend it on something else. I recommend "The iron giant", not only will it entertain the kids (and more importantly you), but you will also thank yourself that you don't have to endure the excruciating soundtrack or pat moralizing of this entirely meaningless film. Sheer balderdash.

Customer Reviews:

The adventures of a little toaster.......2000-09-29

This is a very interesting story about a little toaster and his friends. Disney has succeeded, in a very creative way of bringing a motley of home appliances to life, without omitting to give each character its own individual personality. My children were held in rapture when they watched the movie for the first time and I must admit, so was I! It was amazing how the film-makers were able to infuse character and emotions in things as mundane as home appliances.

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