Finding Dory

photo courtesy of metro.co.uk

     The minds at Pixar (which is owned by Disney, along with just about everything else these days), are something of a legend in the filmmaking world, and for good reason. Time and time again—with a few exceptions—they have released films that are epic in scale, groundbreaking in animation, and heart-wrenching in emotional honesty. The most recent of these is Finding Dory, the sequel to the incredibly popular and much-beloved Finding Nemo (2003). For those who are wondering about the film or worried about whether or not it carries on the legacy of its predecessor and the larger legacy of Pixar itself, you can rest assured: Finding Dory is a good one.

     The main action of Finding Dory picks up a year after the events of Finding Nemo. Fan-favorite Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who suffers from short-term memory loss, suddenly remembers something that changes her life—an early memory of her parents. That memory sparks an epic ocean-crossing adventure to both recover the family that she lost and to learn some important lesson about herself. Cue uncontrollable sobbing.

photo courtesy of movies.disney.com

     Along for the ride are Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence). On the way, the gang encounters a number of new friends: surly octopus Hank (Ed O’Neill), nearsighted whale shark Destiny (Kaitlin Olson), and insecure beluga whale Bailey (Ty Burrell), along with plenty of others. Even Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy drop in for the fun.

     Finding Dory is, basically, a top-notch Pixar sequel. Purists may be disappointed that Pixar has stooped to sequelization or fear that the film is yet another shameless cash grab from Disney—and though that may be so, Dory doesn’t feel like it. It feels like a story that adds to and elaborates on the emotional core of the original. That, more than anything else, is what makes Finding Dory work. Just like last year’s Inside Out, Dory proves that Pixar can still tell a story that resonates with people on deep and fundamental levels.

photo courtesy of gamespot.com

     There are real life lessons for kids and adults alike. It touches on complex emotional issues, but deals with them deftly— in such a way that children can understand and adults are reduced to tears. In keeping with its predecessor, it confronts the subject of disabilities, though it does so even more thoroughly and artfully than Nemo (which we might expect since Dory herself is now the subject).

     The film also bears evidence of very mature storytelling, which I suppose we should expect by now from Pixar. It makes bold choices. And where it could lean on Finding Nemo as a crutch for storytelling ease or box office aid, it doesn’t. References and throwbacks to the original are few, and they’re mostly out of the way fairly quickly to make room for a whole new cast of characters, a fresh environment, and an entirely original experience to enjoy. The movie feels different, distinct…which, at times, could be a plus or a minus.

     There is immense and wonderful character exploration. Perhaps it’s because it’s been over 10 years since the original, but the dynamic between Dory and Marlin still seems engaging and meaningful. Nemo contributes to the mix well, and the new cast has its moments too.

photo courtesy of bustle.com

     Of course, with DeGeneres as the star of the show, the movie is really, really funny. As always, Pixar packs in laughs for audiences of all generations, so expect to get cracked up. The humor is simple, pure, and bright—a fun ingredient to alleviate the sometimes intense emotional depth.

     The last thing to be said in favor of the film is that the animation is truly remarkable. Pixar continues to advance and lead the industry in this area. Although of course things are stylized, there’s a feeling of reality and a certain attention to detail that makes the film (and especially its accompanying short film, Piper) stand out.

     For those who care to hear it, though, there are flaws. Dory, while it is very good, isn’t quite Nemo. That’s hardly a criticism—just like The Force Awakens (good though it may be) will never be A New Hope and Age of Ultron will never be The Avengers (2012), it’s pretty much impossible to match or improve upon the original in this case. What Dory lacks, by necessity, is the sheer imagination of Nemo. This one can’t capture the excitement and enjoyment of seeing the ocean unfold before these characters…though it does provide the secondary bonus of allowing us to reunite with them. Nemo has an air of magic about it, and although Dory threatens to capture it at times, by the end of the film that magic proves to be a bit too elusive. It should be noted, though, that this particular phenomenon could possibly have to do less with differences between the films and more to do with the fact that this reviewer was a kid for the first one and is an adult now.

photo courtesy of slashfilm.com

     And interestingly enough, while the film is laudable for its aforementioned sensibility to disabilities, I can't be the only one wondering how treatment of the seal Gerald fits into that. There's one character who, most generously, is very dumb, and less generously... is quite possibly mentally impaired. He's used primarily for comedic value, and it seems odd that we're having jokes at his expense. It's possible to read too much into Gerald's presence, but that whole section (however brief) sticks out like a sore thumb regardless of how it was intended. At the very least, Pixar would have done well to clarify just what's going on with their character (i.e. he's not sentient like the others, or he's a just a silly seal) rather than risk overturning their remarkable, carefully-wrapped message to disabled people.

     One final thing worth mentioning is that although the new ensemble that surrounds our core cast is fun and inviting, it’s not as much fun as the old ensemble. There are really memorable moments; several of the characters are alternatively hilarious and heartbreaking. But there’s nothing quite so clever as Bruce and his shark support group or the tank gang.

     All things considered, although Finding Dory might be an inch or two short of Finding Nemo, it’s still a great work of art and a wonderful time at the theatre. It’s a stellar Pixar product and, even though it is a sequel, it’s lightyears ahead of the entire Cars franchise. Young and old alike will find childish delight in it. Another win for nostalgia.

photo courtesy of screenrant.com