The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a quirky comedy from the mind of Wes Anderson that succeeds in bringing the laughs thanks to the brilliant Bill Murray and the rest of its ensemble cast.
Murray, who teamed with Anderson in Rushmore, plays Steve Zissou – an oceanographer who is in the twilight of his career and heading out on one last adventure to find the new breed of shark that ate his friend.
Zissou, along with his crew called Team Zissou, are in pursuit of the possibly non-existent shark not to study it, but to destroy it and get revenge for the death of his friend. Along the way, the old captain has to deal with pirates, a pesky reporter, no money, and the possibility of being a father.
Murray succeeds at making this movie funny thanks to his deadpan manner that makes even the most bizarre plot seem funny. He keeps the same tone throughout the movie and even sports a Speedo for our amusement - or nightmares after you see the sight. He is really funny in his ability to make the character a cross between a less intelligent Jacques Cousteau and a less driven Captain Ahab. Instead, Zissou comes across as a has-been who still thinks he rules the oceans and is at the height of his masculine prime.
The rest of Team Zissou, including Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Bud Cort and Anjelica Huston, also help add to Anderson’s unique style of comedy. They all bring a few laughs to the screen and help the movie in some of the duller moments that seem to come with Anderson’s films.
Wilson plays Zissou’s possible illegitimate son Ned, and joins the team to get to know his father better. He also ends up producing the documentary of Zissou’s quest to kill the mysterious Jaguar Shark. Along the way, the two form a strange father/son bond, compete for the love a five month pregnant reporter, played by Cate Blanchett, have a fist fight and come up with clever nicknames for each other.
The entire cast carries the movie
Some of the movie’s really funny moments come from Dafoe – who plays Klaus Daimler. His character is a mix of a tough guy and a crybaby. The actor really hams the part up, but it works because of Dafoe’s talent. You can’t help but laugh when he complains about always being on the “B” team, but then cries when Murray tells him that he is the leader of the “B” team. He also looks hilarious in the blue wetsuits and red wool caps that the entire team wears.<!--page-->
Aquatic Main Menu
Jeff Goldblum, who plays Zissou’s nemesis Dr. Alistair Hennessey, also delivers some funny moments to the movie. He isn’t in the film enough to really help carry it, but brings some laughs when it does seem to be slowing down. His character is the opposite of Zissou, and Goldblum is perfect at playing the smug doctor who thinks he is better than everyone. The DVD comes in a Criterion Collection two-disc special edition and is loaded with special features. The features include:
Aquatic Special Features menu
Overall, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a funny movie if you are a fan of Anderson or Murray. It may seem bizarre or even dry at times to those who are not use to the director’s unique style of comedy, but delivers enough laughs and cast power to hold your interest until the end. It has some charm to it thanks to the beautiful locations and the film’s music. I would recommend it to any fan of Anderson or Murray. If you are not a fan other either, then this may not be the movie for you, but you should give it a try.
The movie is available at Amazon on May 10 and can be pre-ordered at AmazonUK for a July release.
For more information on this release please visit the database .
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