Story
Mr Fish (voice of Nick Offerman), known throughout his community as the ‘Pout-Pout Fish’, is a grumpy recluse who never smiles. His way of life is turned upside down when an energetic sea dragon named Pip (voice of Nina Oyama) enters Mr Fish’s house, and both of their houses get destroyed.
In order to fix their houses, the pair set off on an adventure to find the fabled ‘Shimmer’ (voice of Jordin Sparks), a fish said to have the power to grant wishes. However, Benji (voice of Remy Hii), a cuttlefish, is also searching for Shimmer. Benji wants Shimmer to help him stop overgrown kelp that threatens to upheave his whole community.
Will Mr Fish and Pip reach Shimmer before Benji, or can they learn to work together to make all their wishes come true?
Themes
Social rejection; family conflict; war
Violence
The Pout-Pout Fish has some violence. For example:
- Some dolphins bare their teeth and attempt to eat Mr Fish and Pip.
- When the cuttlefish are forced to leave their homes due to overgrown kelp, their leader tells them that it’s time to ‘redevelop’ the reef. This involves invading the community where Mr Fish and Pip live. The cuttlefish bomb the town with their ink sacs and use their colour-changing ability to hypnotise the locals, telling them to leave the reef.
Sexual references
The Pout-Pout Fish has some sexual references – for example, a crustacean brags about his attractiveness.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
The Pout-Pout Fish has some substance use – for example, a jellyfish sting causes Mr Fish to act as though he’s under the influence of drugs, showing unusual behaviour and dulled senses.
Nudity and sexual activity
There’s no nudity and sexual activity in The Pout-Pout Fish.
Product placement
There’s no product placement in The Pout-Pout Fish.
Coarse language
The Pout-Pout Fish has some coarse language – for example, ‘bull shark’, ‘what the flip’ and ‘shut up’.
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Pout-Pout Fish is an animated children’s comedy based on the acclaimed book series of the same name by Deborah Diesen. While most of the movie is suitable for all ages, a late scene shows cuttlefish invading a neighbouring community and forcing residents out of their homes. Due to this violence and some mild themes, the movie is unsuitable for children under 5 years, and parental guidance is recommended for 5-8s.
These are the main messages from The Pout-Pout Fish:
- Keep looking for light, even in the darkest of places.
- The power to make wishes come true lies inside of you.
Values in The Pout-Pout Fish that you could reinforce with your children include self-expression, bravery, friendship and persistence.
The Pout-Pout Fish could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the importance of thinking before acting. It shows that while helping others is important, it’s also important to consider possible risks to yourself and to others before stepping in.