It’s been 13 years since Finding Nemo, and Disney audiences have been thirsting to dive back into the sea for the sequel, Finding Dory. The gang’s all here, and the events of Finding Dory take place a mere year after the events of its predecessor. (Points for realism to Disney — we all know fish don’t live that long.)
Forgetful Dory (voiced excellently again by Ellen DeGeneres) all of a sudden remembers flashes of her guppyhood, and spontaneously heads out on a journey to find her parents. To say that Dory is cute as a guppy is an understatement; expect the plush toys of this little fish to fly off the shelves, because wow, it’s not a stretch to say that baby Dory is one of Disney’s most adorable creations thus far.
She heads out into the open sea, along with Nemo (Alexander Gould) and his father Marlin (Albert Brooks), and they eventually end up at a marine wildlife centre, where the majority of the film takes place. You’d think relegating the characters into a building, albeit a large one, would be restrictive, but the animators keep it fresh and fun by somehow always managing to keep the fish in water.
Also joining the party this time around is an octopus, Hank (Ed O’Neill), who steals the movie both in terms of his animation (wow, just wow) and his personality. O’Neill specializes in gruff cantankerousness, and here he’s on his A-game.
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Is the movie engaging for both children and adults?
Yes. Both the little ones and the big ones will find Finding Dory very entertaining. There are some lulls and some serious scenes packed with sombre dialogue, but the ultimate moral of the story, which is that parents will love their children no matter what, comes through loud and clear. Dory’s forgetfulness can be slightly irritating for grown-ups at times, but that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise solid story.
How’s the story?
It’s a touching tale of separation and reunion, done to perfection as only Disney can do. This reporter reluctantly admits that tears welled up a couple of times during the film. In a stroke of genius, it’s a story that everyone can connect with; each of us has parents and at the very least, friends who take the place of parents, so it’s not hard to identify with Dory and her quest. The subplot (or the co-plot?) is about Dory’s lack of memory and how a personal quirk is something to value, not rue. Again, this regaling of individuality, no matter how ill-perceived it might be, is something that children should be taught early on. To be different from everyone else isn’t a crime. Remember how one of Nemo’s fins is smaller than the other? Just like that.
What about the animation?
It’ll blow your mind how far the animation has come. It’s impossible to count how many times I forgot it was animated, most especially while in the ocean. The tall poles of plankton, the murky waves, and the sheer deftness and seamlessness of it all is breathtaking. Even little droplets of water cascade up in the fish tanks — it’s impossible to note every last detail.
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Does the new Pixar short play before the movie?
It should. Called Piper, it follows the trials of a newborn sandpiper who lives on the beach. It is a true marvel, and stacks itself up nicely with the other Pixar shorts of the past few years. The baby sandpiper rivals baby Dory in cuteness, too.
So what’s the bottom line?
Perfectly appropriate for both kids and adults, the almost-two-hours swims by in a flash. While the film isn’t a laugh a minute, it’s heartfelt, genuine and feel-good from start to finish. You may feel the urge to hug your parents when you leave the theatre, just a warning.
‘Finding Dory’ is now playing in theatres across Canada.
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