Review of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) by Shane S — 14 Mar 2012

This is Wes Anderson's funniest film.

It's not his most profound (The Royal Tenenbaums) nor is it his most relatable (Rushmore) or his most imaginative (Fantastic Mr. Fox), but it's his funniest. It takes the dry humor of Bottle Rocket and pretty much amplifies it in a gonzo mix of self-parody, Fellini worship, and constant comic surreality all throughout. This is the film that Yahoo Serious keeps seeing everything he tries to talk about Young Einstein - it's everything that Yahoo wanted to do (parody of the action/adventure blockbuster, loving satire on the film industry, a good tale of preservation, all interspersed with cartoonish moments), but just couldn't do it because of his lack of any true cohesion.

Anderson knows how to put together a cohesive plot and not have his film feel like a million different sketches that would air in between Powderfinger videos on Rage. This movie is a testament to his powers. Yeah, it's his most cartoonish in terms of film (again, none of the emotional power of his magnum opuses), but it's his funniest and his most adventurous. And dare I say it: it's his most mainstream. So delightfully mainstream without completely watering down his style. It's great entry-level Anderson that doesn't date once you get into his more potent works.

And tell me: how is this more experimental? Is it because he mixes animation and live-action? Is it because he places in fake documentary footage? Is it because he tries satire (and surprisingly succeeds) for the first time?

But hey, it's his funniest film. You should watch it for the comedy. If that's not it, then I'll let you in on a little secret: Wes has some of his best OCD-lite set design in this film. So perfectly over-the-top and cartoonish.