Finding Dory
Directed by: Andrew Stanton - Co-director: Angus MacLane
Written by: Andrew Stanton - Story by Andrew Stanton and Victoria Strouse & Bob Peterson
Voices by: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Sloane Murray, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Bob Peterson, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver
Animation/Adventure/Comedy - 103 min Reviewed by Charlie Juhl on 14 June 2016
Written by: Andrew Stanton - Story by Andrew Stanton and Victoria Strouse & Bob Peterson
Voices by: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Sloane Murray, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Bob Peterson, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver
Animation/Adventure/Comedy - 103 min Reviewed by Charlie Juhl on 14 June 2016
I was underwhelmed when news of Finding Dory’s arrival to theaters broke because not only was Pixar opting for another sequel over original material, but Dory was arguably the least enjoyable character in Finding Nemo. Dory the blue tang fish has a short term memory problem and enduring her perpetual clarification of this point and brain reset is an endurance exercise. Catapulting Dory into the spotlight would frustrate audiences who expect Pixar to look beyond Dory’s well known malady and explore the animated emotional depths we know they are capable of. Well, Finding Dory succeeds in spite of the main character. The abundance of memorable and hilarious new supporting characters and Pixar’s cagey ability to tap into feelings about family and friends more than make up for Dory’s irritating conundrum.
In Pixar’s PG-rated version of the ocean, directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane sidestep the food chain reality so kids are not traumatized when a beloved character serves its purpose for a bigger fish. In this world, fish live for years, have just one or two kids, are monogamous, and co-exist relatively easily among advanced predators. Nemo, his father Marlin, and Dory are back in their Australian reef and the characters’ idiosyncrasies are the same. Marlin (Albert Brooks, Concussion) is cautious and rooted firmly to his home while Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is flighty and ready to drift off with the current.
In Pixar’s PG-rated version of the ocean, directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane sidestep the food chain reality so kids are not traumatized when a beloved character serves its purpose for a bigger fish. In this world, fish live for years, have just one or two kids, are monogamous, and co-exist relatively easily among advanced predators. Nemo, his father Marlin, and Dory are back in their Australian reef and the characters’ idiosyncrasies are the same. Marlin (Albert Brooks, Concussion) is cautious and rooted firmly to his home while Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is flighty and ready to drift off with the current.
Dory suddenly remembers she had parents and even that she comes from California, the Marine Life Institute in particular. The Institute’s goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release all kinds of sea creatures exquisitely explained to us by an electronic Sigourney Weaver (Chappie), a wonderful run-on joke. Maneuvering around the aquatic park, which comes off as a humane version of Sea World, Dory meets all the sidekicks who are the real heavy lifters in making Finding Dory such an enjoyable time.
Marlin and Dory get separated so Dory’s new guide, protector, and buddy is Hank the septapus; he’s missing an arm. Hank (Ed O’Neill, Entourage) and Dory are opposites, quite similar to Marlin and Dory’s dynamic in the first film. Where Hank is a cantankerous curmudgeon who would be more than happy to have Dory’s memory problem, “No memories, no problems,” Dory is innocent and guileless. Pushing Hank out of his comfort zone, Dory slowly teaches Hank about the the value of family and friends and that being on your own is no way to live, standard Disney fare.
Credit Pixar’s animators with the wonder that is Hank’s camouflaged body. Hank changes color and shape as often as you blink while reading this. It’s hysterical. Almost as funny as the two sea lions (Idris Elba, The Jungle Book, and Dominic West) who act similar to the seagulls from Finding Nemo and two whales (Kaitlin Olson, Vacation, and Ty Burrell, Muppets Most Wanted). Olson voices an enormous whale shark who remembers Dory from before and Burrell is a beluga whose echolocation ability is fascinating and played just right. Pixar literally drives us off a cliff a bit when Hank drives a truck, but the whole combination of the sea lions, some otters, and the whales means all is forgiven.
Sifting through the action-filled climax and the “Awwww” moments of Dory’s memories returning to show us exactly how she got lost in the first place are a few sequences I hope do not get glossed over. A remarkable scene occurs when Hank and Dory end up in the Kid Zone, where sticky, grabby kid hands manhandle the fish. It comes off as a supernatural scream fest as random fish get plucked and poked as they scream in terror and worms warn you “Never to enter Poker’s Cove!” Part homage and part brilliant adaptation to the horror genre, I believe the Kid Zone section may be Finding Dory’s finest.
13 years after Finding Nemo, which already looked great, new technology makes the product appear even more impressive and the attached 3D is employed with obvious veteran skill. It does not look cheap; therefore, the extra care and attention helps carry the film rather than annoy the audience already perturbed with the extra 3D ticket price and uncomfortable, over-sized spectacles. Disney/Pixar return to a lucrative well and sell us a very similar tale to Finding Nemo and Toy Story. No matter how lost and how far away you get, you can always find your way home due to the pull and gravity of family. One of the world’s most adept animated film factories scores another run with Finding Dory, but fingers crossed more original material finds its way to the plate soon.
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