While the book is an obvious tie-in to Finding Dory, the message is universal: no matter what obstacles you face, just keep swimming and you’ll find your way.
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The film begins about a year after the irrepressible blue tang Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) helped worrywart clownfish Marlon (Albert Brooks) rescue his son Nemo from danger.
Dory’s special needs haven’t impaired her popularity: According to IMDb, the fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres has the most Facebook likes (25 million-plus) of any Disney character.
Cue another great adventure, littered with mild peril and new friends, intercut with flashbacks to an unbearably cute, wide-eyed young Dory.
Finding Dory, the anticipated sequel to Pixar classic Finding Nemo, follows the forgetful fish Dory on a brand new big screen adventure.
What comes to mind when you hear the words “Finding Dory?”.
The seemingly endless list of household names who lent their voices to this animated film as well as Disney Pixar’s longstanding ability to churn out hits pretty much guarantee this weekend will belong to Dory and her colorful sea-dwelling friends, but how does it measure up to the original? General release from Friday 29 Jul.
And just in time too. But they have in recent years been moved up to earlier Thursday evening, making it possible for family-friendly films to capitalize on eager moviegoers. And it would focus on Dory, whom Stanton had created with DeGeneres in mind.
Dory’s ocean buddies have their own challenges: Destiny has impaired vision, while Bailey struggles with echolocation; Hank deals with anxiety, and Nemo has that “lucky” undersized fin.
Regardless, Marlin learning anew to live by Dory’s insane tactics, and appreciate what they’ve done for him already, sneaks up to touch the heart just as the movie does. “When you’re gay and you’re successful in this business, your whole team says, ‘Don’t rock the boat”.
If your little Finding Nemo fans are so inspired by the illustrations that they want to dip into the watercolors themselves, Lee has helpful advice for them and all aspiring artists. But there are times when Dory’s ongoing habit of repeating herself feels just a little too on the nose for a movie that, in many instances, is doing essentially the same thing.
Alexander Gould, the original voice of Nemo, has been replaced by seventh grader Hayden Rolence in this movie. There isn’t a need to bring as many Kleenexs as there was for Inside Out a year ago, yet eyes are sure to well up at a few key places, especially for parents and children who live with their own special needs on dry land.
In terms of getting that job done, “Dory” should deliver.
DeGeneres was a comedic tour de force in Nemo, but Finding Dory is equally revelatory for her and Dory in a different way.
But remember what Dory says: Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
Even some of those who gave positive scores to Finding Dory still dismissed it for not meeting the bar of Finding Nemo and the other Pixar masterpieces. What the film lacks in clean-cut storytelling, though, it more than makes up for in sheer emotionality.
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Pixar’s sequels to date have ranged from the sublime (Toy Storys 2 and 3) and the serviceable (Monsters University) to the unnecessary (Cars 2).
