Rated R

Directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum, Bud Cort, Cate Blanchett, Willem Defoe

Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 3.5

Word of Warning: Be prepared to leave the real world and be transported to another slightly recognizable one; some people will like this and others will find it irritating.

I don’t always like Wes Anderson films, so unlike some of my friends, I didn’t rush out to see “Life Aquatic.”  I do like Bill Murray and decided to put this in my Netflix queue (near the bottom of the list).  It finally arrived in our mail box and thankfully I was in the proper mood to watch a Wes Anderson flick.

“Life Aquatic” is the story of Steve Zissou (Bill Murray). Zissou is a Jacques Cousteau type of character, however, we join Zissou in the twilight of his career. His documentaries are not receiving their usual critical acclaim. At the premier of his newest documentary he is approached by a very big fan (Owen Wilson) who claims to be Zissou’s son.  Zissou decides to take his new found son on his next exploration.

Zissou intends to find a new species of shark he calls a Jaguar Shark. Anjelica Huston plays Zissou’s fed up wife, Eleanor Zissou. Cate Blanchett plays a beautiful, pregnant, young journalist who is joining the exploration in order to write a story about Zissou. Willem Defoe is a loyal member of Zissou’s crew.

As Zissou embarks on his next exploration, the audiences is treated to an exotic world of creatures who appear to have stepped out of “Sponge Bob SquarePants.” Wes Anderson has created an alternate universe that is weird and fun. 

I think Bill Murray carries the movie. The other characters are entertaining, but it is Murray who provides the glue that holds the story together. Wes Anderson films aren’t for everyone, but if you enjoy Murray, I think you’ll enjoy “The LIfe Aquatic with Steve Zissou.”