Review: 'The Pout-Pout Fish' is an amiable, colorful and completely unremarkable animated tale of a grumpy fish on a quest

The animated tale “The Pout-Pout Fish” tells of a grumpy fish on a quest near the coral reefs of Australia — and if it wasn’t for a certain Pixar film in a very similar setting, you might not notice how pedestrian this movie is. 

Based on a series of children’s books by Deborah Diesen, “The Pout-Pout Fish” starts with Mr. Fish, who is voiced by Nick Offerman, in the most on-the-nose voice casting since Lewis Black voiced anger in “Inside Out.” Mr. Fish swims through his town on the coral reef, looking glum day after day, despite the regular efforts of his neighbors to cheer him up.

One day, a little sea dragon named Pip (voiced by Nina Oyama) enters Mr. Fish’s house, thinking the shipwreck-looking abode is a junkyard, and starts rummaging around for supplies he can take back to his own home. In the ensuing argument between Mr. Fish and Pip, Mr. Fish’s house breaks apart and falls on top of Pip’s house. Now, suddenly, they’re both homeless.

Mr. Fish wants to get to work rebuilding, but Pip has another idea. They have to find Shimmer (voiced by Jordin Sparks), the legendary and elusive rainbow fish who, the legend goes, can grant wishes. Mr. Fish starts looking for Shimmer, reluctantly taking Pip along for the trip. Also on the trail is Benji (voiced by Remy Hii), a cuttlefish who wants to use Shimmer’s wish (she can only give one at a time, we’re told) to help save the cuttlefish homeland from permanent darkness by encroaching kelp.

The journey sets Mr. Fish and Pip on encounters with stinging jellyfish, a wayward baby whale, and a trio of pink dolphins (all voiced by Amy Sedaris) who talk like characters from “Mean Girls.” None of this, as presented by director Ricard Cussó and co-director Rio Harrington, is exceptionally funny or exciting, but the movie glides from one episode to the next pleasantly if not memorably. 

I could imagine “The Pout-Pout Fish” as acceptable entertainment for little children, as it provides pleasant colors and an undemanding story with some nice life lessons about confidence and friendship. Anyone who’s seen a fair share of animation will likely get bored and want to go find Nemo.

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‘The Pout-Pout Fish’

★★1/2

Opens Friday, March 20, in theaters. Rated PG for mild action and rude humor. Running time: 91 minutes.