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Since the 2003 release of Pixar’s Finding Nemo, audiences have watched, rewatched, and fallen in love with the underwater adventures of a cute little clownfish with a lucky fin. And now audiences can set out on another journey through the crowded seas with the long-awaited sequel, Finding Dory.
Finding Dory takes place a year after Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence), Marlin (Albert Brooks), and their memory-challenged friend, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), first journeyed across the ocean. Their lives seem to have settled into a comfortable routine—until Dory’s childhood memories start flooding back. Suddenly remembering the parents that she’s lost, Dory sets out to California to find them. But when she arrives at the Marine Life Institute and gets separated from Nemo and Marlin, she has to face her fears and rely on both new friends and old ones to help her reunite with her family.
Loyal fans of Finding Nemo may have mixed emotions going into the sequel: excited to spend more time with these beloved characters, nervous that it just won’t live up to the heart and humor and underwater fun of the original. But there’s nothing to worry about—because while Finding Dory may not be quite as compelling as Finding Nemo, it’s still lively and fun, moving and beautiful.
Though the filmmakers have thrown in occasional references and flashbacks and character cameos to connect the sequel to its predecessor, Dory is enjoyable in its own right. The old characters are as lovable as ever, while the new characters—like Ed O’Neill’s lovably cranky octopus Hank—are cute and quirky. The animation, too, is nothing short of spectacular. From the ocean depths to the tanks at the aquarium, everything here is vibrant and detailed and often shockingly lifelike—yet it’s mixed with the same playful, cartoonish style of the original.
The story here is certainly familiar—following the same formula as the original—but it doesn’t feel tedious and overplayed. It’s once again filled with action and adventure as the characters race through the ocean and get lost in the aquarium—both separately and together—on their quest to find Dory’s family. Just when you think that everything is about to come together in a neat conclusion, though, the story takes another turn. In the end, it seems to borrow Dory’s motto: Just keep swimming. And though its twists and turns and surprises add to the fun, they also make the action feel slightly prolonged.
Of course, as is generally the case for Pixar, underneath all of the silly characters and their outrageous adventures is a whole lot of heart. At times, it’s just a little bit sad—and it’s sure to tug on your heartstrings from time to time, too—yet it’s all balanced well. It never feels too sad or too heavy (like the opening scene of Finding Nemo, which my daughter always makes me skip). It’s just sweet and thoughtful and heartwarming. And while kids will love the action and laughs, grown-ups will appreciate the messages about friendship, family, and the enduring love of a parent.
With its mix of heart and humor, old and new, Finding Dory is a worthwhile sequel to a beloved animated adventure. It may not be as surprising or original as Finding Nemo, but it’s sure to delight Nemo fans of all ages.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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