"Finding Dory" Review

Title: Finding Dory

Directed by: Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane

Written by: Andrew Stanton and Victoria Strouse

Year: 2016


It seems unbelievable for me to say that 13 years ago I was sitting in the theatre watching Finding Nemo. I am astonished by how much time has passed since that film came out. But the follow-up picture, Finding Dory, the first in a string of Pixar sequels, has now been released. How does this latest Pixar film stack up against its predecessor? Is it shallow and coarse, or deeply rich?

While on a field trip with Nemo, Dory is struck by a memory of her family. Now remembering that she has a family, Dory is determined to find them and will need the help of Marlin, Nemo, and several other characters along the way. But her entire adventure relies upon her memory, which does not bode well for our heroes given her short-term memory loss.

Before I talk about Finding Dory, I will summarize my thoughts on the short that accompanies it, which is called Piper. Simply put, this is a cute little feature that sets up the tone of the film well and offers some laughs as well as a bit of a touching story. I liked it very much (certainly more than Lava) and found it to be a charming piece. A delicious appetizer that arrives before the main course.

Ellen DeGeneres returns to voice the beloved Dory and this was such perfect casting. DeGeneres has made this character her own, imbuing her signature charm and voice talents. Frequently a scene-stealer, Dory is such an endearing and lovable character, and most of that comes from DeGeneres' performance. Not enough people give Albert Brooks credit for his role as Marlin. I think that Brooks is extraordinary as the clownfish. He disappears into the role and absolutely nails the character. Hayden Rolence does a good job at capturing the youthful yet slightly more mature nature of Nemo. He hits that balance well and has great interactions with the other actors.

Ed O'Neill provides the voice for Hank the octopus and he is magnificent. This is a character that is tough on the outside but a bit softer once you get to know him, and O'Neill gets this across splendidly. Hank is one of the best aspects of Finding Dory. The writing for the character is on point and the animation is a work of art, but I will expand on that later. Kaitlin Olson is pleasant as Dory's childhood friend, Destiny, and Ty Burrell is thoroughly entertaining as Bailey the beluga whale.

Something that Finding Dory excels in is giving us fantastic characters. Not only are all the voice actors providing top notch performances, but each character is given a considerable amount of depth. The audience can latch onto all of these characters and sympathize with them because the writers have given each one room to breathe. In addition to building upon the previous characters, the script also establishes the newcomers as fleshed-out personalities. All of the new side characters are memorable and distinct, which is something that Pixar tends to do well.

One thing I was worried about going into this film was that it would turn out to be a re-hash of Finding Nemo, with a few added bells and whistles. I am very happy to say that my pre-conceptions were confirmed false. Finding Dory carries some of the same beats from the first film, but this is a very different picture. The story is sort of a reversal, in that the person who is lost is the one trying to find the people who lost them. I am surprised by how refreshing this plot felt. There are callbacks to the original, but they do not get in the way of the overall story. The film holds the same tone as the previous one, but the story is so different that it helps make it its own separate entity.

Another aspect of the film I must compliment is the editing. The film contains a lot of flashbacks to Dory's past and they all feel relevant and present themselves at key moments. These flashbacks are well handled and feed into the main story very effectively. On a side note, the baby Dory sequences are an assault of adorability. It is ridiculous how cute Dory is as a baby, as well as how effectively presented parenting a child with special needs is. In addition, Finding Dory is a very fast-paced film that never lulls or slows down. Yes, there are moments where the characters take a breather to have emotional conversations, but this never interrupts how quickly the film moves along.

The animation is what you would expect from a Pixar film, but that does not make it any less spectacular. Everything that appears on screen is a barrage of beauty. The bright and varied colors really pop and highlight the colorful characters that inhabit the picture. The backgrounds are wonderfully detailed, as are the the textures. This movie is so lovely to take in and a true treat for the eyes. The animation for Hank is especially impressive. According to Pixar, one of Hank's scenes took two years to animate. That is insane, but the effort shows. The way Hank camouflages into his surroundings demonstrates how creative the filmmakers are and is one of the best parts of the film.

The score by Thomas Newman is just as great as the animation. The tracks are wonderfully composed and accompany the emotional beats appropriately. Also, the use of the song "Unforgettable" is sheer brilliance. If I were to pick out any flaws with the movie, it would be that the ending slightly overstays its welcome. Just when you think the film will end, it continues for a bit longer, which tampers with the excellent pace that was set forth earlier. Another issue I had was that the film took a little bit to get going. It felt like it was retreading the same story from the first film. Once the adventure begins, this changes but it did feel a bit too similar to the first one near the beginning.

Finding Dory comes as a genuine surprise, it really does. I was expecting no more than a good movie. I cannot believe that I am saying that this sequel is a great film. The filmmakers knew how to continue the story from Finding Nemo while also making it very original. The voice cast is impeccable, the animation is marvelous, and the script is solid. There are plenty of laughs while also a lot of touching moments. A few minor pacing issues aside, this is a fast-moving picture that is constantly entertaining. Is it better than the first one? For me, it is too soon to say. I would have to watch both of them again in quick succession to make that call, but I would put them on the same level. In fact, I had a more enjoyable time watching Finding Dory than I did Finding Nemo. This is a delightful surprise that should please viewers of all ages.

Grade: A-