In 2003, Finding Nemo captured the hearts of young and old alike. So Pixar jumped on the opportunity to capitalize on a sequel. Thirteen years later, Finding Dory continues a year from the events of Finding Nemo.
Release Date: June 17, 2016
Writer: Victoria Strouse, Andrew Stanton
Director: Andrew Stanton
Cast: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Eugene Levy, Diane Keaton, Ty Burrell, Ed O’Neil, Kaitlin Olson
Fans of Finding Nemo, know that Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) suffers from short-term memory loss. Now that she has found a new home and new family with Marlin (Albert Brooks) and his son, Nemo (Hayden Rolence), Dory is starting to remember things. Specifically, she’s remembering her parents (Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton) and the moments she separated from them.
Dory quickly convinces Marlin and Nemo to help her find her parents by traveling from Australia to Morro Bay, California to a marine life rehabilitation center. Dory is aided in her search by Hank (Ed O’Neil) the Octopus, old friend Destiny (Kaitlin Olson) and Bailey (Ty Burrell), the beluga whale.
Like the original, Finding Dory takes the idea of children and friends being lost/separated and tells it in a fresh way. As a parent, stories of losing children is a scary prospect and made the story of young Dory hard to watch without thinking of my own child. But this is what Pixar does best. They tell an exciting story with high stakes and then proceed to jerk you around emotionally. Here’s a little cute fish and her loving parents and an incredible amount of foreshadowing that this fish is going to be lost for a long time.
The other thing that Pixar does well is the sucker punch. No plan is ever as easy as it sounds. All routes that appear to solve the problem is quickly shut down. Ultimately, this becomes the theme of the movie. Dory is the only character in the film, that is oblivious to the problems and easy solutions around her. Yet, she is the one who manages to solve all the problems.
Pixar just manages to push out great film after great film, and Finding Dory deserves its spot on the shelf. Although it will probably sit in the middle of the pack, it is a fun movie, touching story and another repeat-viewing candidate for you and your children.
7 out of 10 stars