Let me start off by saying I wasn't one of the millions of people that was anxiously anticipating the release of this movie prior to it's opening. Don't get me wrong, I was always planning on seeing it and looking forward to it but I didn't anticipate this sequels release like many others did but I knew it was going to be big. I enjoyed the first Finding Nemo movie and thought it was a fun and heartwarming movie but I didn't grow up with it like everyone else did. When it comes to animated Disney and Pixar films, I'm pretty old school 90's guy. I thought the casting for the first Finding Nemo was appealing with Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, and William Dafoe doing solid jobs with their voiceover roles and the movie itself looking breathtaking and stellar (Unfortunately I missed the 3D rerelease of this film a few years ago when it came back out in theaters but I chose to revisit it on VHS after missing that opportunity.) Going into Finding Dory, I expected to be equally entertained and impressed with Pixar's attempt at bringing a long awaited sequel to the big screen 13 years later, and to little or no surprise, they succeeded. Not only does the story take place a year after the events of the first movie but the actors voices and performances mirror the previous film's so well that you almost don't notice the time lapse in between both film's in reality. Pixar pays a great attention to detail with their movies and the same can be said here for this film.
Finding Dory is a charming and heartwarming sequel that lives up to the expectations placed on it as well as being a worthy continuation of the original films storyline. Whereas the first film was essentially a father and son story with the father Marlin searching for his child named Nemo, this time the story centers around Dory, the friendly but forgetful blue tang fish from the previous film that helped Nemo's father retrieve him now beginning a search for her long-lost parents while her and those she encounters while also helping her learn a few new things about the meaning of family along the way. Much like it's predecessor Finding Dory looks great visually on the big screen with the ocean background making for a beautiful setting. What makes these movies click with audiences is both movies essentially have messages and themes regarding the importance of family. The first movie has themes that center around fatherhood, paternal love, family, overprotectiveness, and responsibility. The message of that film says that parents must realize that eventually they must let their children go when the time comes. It also says that the love of a parent can make them do extroadinary things and our shortcomings can ultimately become our strengths. Finding Dory has themes pertaining to children with learning disabilities, feelings of abandonment, becoming lost once again like Nemo, reconnecting with family and old friends, love, friendship, understanding, and acceptance. It's ultimate message is that families can include other people within the circle outside of blood. These themes and messages are what makes both movies so appealing to audiences on a human scale because they center around themes pertaining to growing up and the strength of family. Finding Dory feels like a true sequel to the first film because whereas that film shows the perspective of Nemo and his father, this time we get Dory's side of the story and her quest to be reunited with her own family despite her challenges with short term memory loss. The relationship between Marlin and Nemo is presented here but isn't as prominent as the story placed Dory front and center. While the idea of a fish with short term memory loss may come off as being ridiculous to older audiences, it provides a poignant message about wanting to reconnect with family and rediscover ones roots while staying true to the first film. It should also be noted that if someone goes into this movie expecting realism and believable scenarios then they picked the wrong feature as this one shows fish helping to drive a car and hopping from one watery location to the next while in public. What triggers her desire to be with her family again is a memory she has of them which initiates her journey. Ellen Degenerous does a beautiful job playing Dory as she captures her vulnerability and desire to be reunited with her family as well as the confusion she conveys with her short term memory loss subplot. Albert Brooks and Hayden Rolence do very well as playing both Marlin and Nemo, showing the same kind of loving yet competitive yet whiny father and son relationship. Whereas that subplot may come off as being repetitive to some in regards to Dory's short term memory issues, it also provides necessary flashbacks giving history to Dory's past with Nemo and his father taking a backseat this time assisting her in finding her home. What makes Finding Dory not just a great visual experience for kids in theater with the blue oceanic setting with a greenish feel to it, is also the depths of humanity that comes with the story as well as being an emotional piece about families reconnecting and lost family members finding their way home. While it is true that Finding Dory does come across as being familiar territory given the plot is similar to Finding Nemo's but done in reverse, both stories work so well off each other that they connect together flawlessly. The film isn't so much a sequel but more of a continuation of the first film with the emotions being effective but not heavy handed tackling issues such as identity and finding ones way home. Anyone going into this expecting to see lots of Nemo and his father Marlin should reconsider their goals as Dory's character is the central one to the story and is who utilizes the most screen time.
Overall Finding Dory is hands down one of the years best pictures as well as being a movie that families can latch onto and find relatability with the film's storyline even if it's not centered around humans. The movie works because it's essentially all heart and remains charming from start to finish. In an year where many Hollywood sequels are failing to leave a mark with audiences, Finding Dory is one of the rare exceptions where audiences are not only approving of the one delivered to them by Pixar but lives up to the hype and expectations of what a sequel should be after 13 years of waiting. Outside of the Toy Story sequels, Pixar has experienced a series of mixed results with making second installments to popular films like Monsters University and Cars 2 but Finding Dory proves to be a solid sequel. If one were to ask me if this movie is as good as the first movie, I would say it's on par with it as it feels like part ll of that film. The film is funny, poignant, witty, and ultimately heartwarming as it brings both movies full circle while carrying some good life lessons of its own about the strength of family and friendship. The film also feels like a passing of the torch from one generation to the next with the same story outline being retold but through the perspective of a newer character. Whereas the first film was a story of a father and son reuniting, now we see a similar scenario with Dory finding her own family again. If one has an opportunity to see this movie in 3D then I highly recommend they do so cause it'll be worth it with the film's scenery looking beautiful especially the underwater glowy lighting that's stunning. Even though Finding Dory doesn't necessarily break any new ground in regards to storytelling as it essentially takes the first film and remakes it with Dory's perspective this time, it's most powerful trait going for it is it's nostalgia.
8/10
Our characters for this evening
I agree entirely, this movie was wonderful, and brilliantly captured the magic and charm of the first! :D
ReplyDeleteAnd Baby Dory is soooooo adorable <3