I joked with my family before arriving at the theater a couple of months ago to see Finding Dory that people my age in their early twenties would be knocking younger children down in order to get the best seat to watch this long-anticipated sequel (maybe I was only half-joking). This film's predecessor, Finding Nemo, was released in 2003 when I was the prime age of eight. Seeing Finding Nemo in theaters with my family is still one of my earliest memories of moviegoing, so when it was announced that thirteen years later, we were finally getting a sequel, my entire generation awaited with hastened breath. We were cautiously optimistic, though, because of the such high regard we have for Nemo. We considered that film to be one of the greatest of all-time, and if Dory didn't live up to that lofty expectation, we would instantly know. While Finding Dory never quite reaches its predecessor's standard (but let's face it: not many films do), in terms of Pixar sequels, it fortunately feels more like Toy Story 3 than it does Cars 2. Paying superb homage to its predecessor while also introducing terrific new characters in a worthwhile story with great messages, Finding Dory is yet another masterpiece from Pixar.
(We've reached a point in the summer where it is possible that you may not have seen some of these films, so potential spoilers are present from here on)
Given that she was my favorite character from Finding Nemo, I was extremely intrigued to see what Pixar had up their sleeve by elevating Dory to the leading role, and I was even more intrigued to see what kind of story they were going to tell. Would it be a simple retread of Finding Nemo or will it be something entirely different? Luckily, Pixar gave us the latter with an ingenious original story that just so happens to star characters we already know and love. Due to our admiration for Dory already, Pixar is able to jump right in and begin their legendary story about Dory returning home to find her parents. While we are shown backstory in the form of flashbacks, none of these scenes feel unnecessary or forced, but rather vital and wholly integral to the story overall. In fact, the flashbacks to Dory's childhood are some of the film's many highlights, and young Dory is legitimately irresistible. Dory is the unrivaled comedic relief in Nemo, but in her own film, even though she does find numerous ways to make us laugh, she now taps into her potential to make us emotional. Dory is an established lovable character before Finding Dory even begins, so when she starts to wonder where her parents are, we are all in on the prospect of following one of our favorite characters all the way home. Ellen DeGeneres once again is absolutely fantastic as Dory here, showcasing a natural ability to tap into her dramatic side with relative ease while never losing her signature charisma and wit. Dory is a character for the ages without her own film, but with her own film, she becomes one of the greatest cinematic characters of all-time (no surprise here: more on Dory below).
It takes an entire ocean/Marine Life Institute to help Dory find her parents, and just as we have come to expect with Pixar, every single new and old creation is flawlessly brought to life. Instead of Dory helping Marlin out, the roles are now reversed in this film as Marlin and Nemo are the ones helping Dory out, and that dynamic is a great one. Since Marlin knows what it is like to lose something you truly love, he can immediately empathize with Dory and therefore is motivated to help her out by any means necessary (even if it means thinking 'what would Dory do?'). Albert Brooks is phenomenal yet again as Marlin, and so is Hayden Rolence assuming the role of Nemo for this film. We are treated to some delightful cameos from such old pals as Mr. Ray, Crush. Squirt, and the Tank Gang in the post-credits scene (seriously, make sure you watch this scene). However, the real stars of Finding Dory outside the titular character are the newcomers. As Dory begins to remember more about her family, she feels compelled to go to the Marine Life Institute, and this plot tool allows Pixar to create more icons to add to their enormous pantheon of great characters. Ed O'Neill's octopus (or is it septapus?), Hank, is just a extraordinary character. When we are introduced to Hank, the only thing he is concerned about is how he is going to get out of the institute and on a truck to Cleveland. He could not care less about Dory and her dreams, but as the film progresses, we see a stark change in Hank's personality. By the film's conclusion, we see Hank heroically aiding Dory to fulfill her quest of returning home. O'Neill does a splendid job balancing grumpy old hag with a deeply hidden caring attitude. Additionally, Kaitlin Olsen's Destiny and Ty Burrell's Bailey are excellent characters as well, filling in for Dory to provide some sensational comedic relief to the film. Fluke and Rudder, the two scene-stealing sea lions exquisitely voiced by Idris Elba and Dominic West respectively, are downright hilarious, and Dory's parents, Jenny (Diane Keaton) and Charlie (Eugene Levy), are everything we want them to be and more. As I have stated before, Pixar's cornerstone has always been its characters, and in Finding Dory, no character is wasted and each one is effortlessly developed with multiple layers and dimensions.
Finding Nemo is undoubtedly one of Pixar's most picturesque films to date, impeccably bringing the vastness and wonder of the ocean to the screen, and with Finding Dory, Pixar continues to exhibit the uncanny ability to create magic with their animation. While a majority of the film is actually spent inside the Marine Life Institute, that does not negate the fact that this film is stunning and beautiful, especially when Dory finally does arrive at her physical home and when Dory and Hank find themselves in the Touch Pool. Also, Thomas Newman has once again crafted a spectacular score to accompany this film. His Nemo score is one of the best in the studio's history, and he may have just outdone himself with his Dory score. Plus, that signature Pixar emotion is on full display throughout Finding Dory. Every flashback sequence featuring a young Dory hits me right in the notorious feels as we catch a glimpse into Dory's true background. Furthermore, that sequence in which Dory finally tracks down her parents is one of Pixar's finest, worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as the studio's most emotional scenes from films like Up and Toy Story 3. I am obviously going to discuss that scene in more detail below, but this sequence elevates Finding Dory from a great film to an instant classic. The theme of never forgetting where you came from is a timely, important message to proclaim, as is the clear encouragement to anyone with a physical or mental disability. Finding Dory sees Pixar doing what only Pixar (and Disney) can do: entertaining, inspiring, and challenging.
I am proud to report that the thirteen year wait for a sequel to Finding Nemo paid off incredibly. Finding Dory is a immediate masterpiece, thoroughly entertaining the masses while also becoming an emotionally engrossing film for the diehard and casual fans alike. Just keep swimming, Pixar, and keep on making sequels like this.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance/Behind the Scenes: Unfortunately, due to the film's recent release date, there is not much to add to these two categories because we simply do not know much about the production process yet. However, I am going to offer you this treat (well, at least I think it's a treat). In honor of the final day of the Summer of Magic, I thought it would be appropriate to rank the Pixar short films as well, because as I wrote previously, their shorts are absolutely sensational. So, without further ado, my rankings of the Pixar shorts!
- Geri's Game
- Piper
- The Blue Umbrella
- La Luna
- Day and Night
- Knick Knack
- Tin Toy
- Luxo Jr.
- Lava
- Sanjay's Super Team
- For the Birds
- One Man Band
- Presto
- Partly Cloudy
- Andre and Wally B.
- Red's Dream
- Boundin'
- Lifted
Favorite Character: It should come as no surprise considering my choice for this section in my review of Finding Nemo (and given that she is without question the star of her own film, unlike Nemo is in his film), but Dory is my favorite character from this one. The idea for Finding Dory was inspired by a single, at the time merely unimportant line from Finding Nemo when Dory contemplates where her family is located. Leave it to Pixar to take this minuscule sentence and develop a fascinating story surrounding Dory and her plight to find her parents. We all know Dory to be a bonafide comedic sidekick, but in Finding Dory, her character expanded immensely beyond that trait as she blossoms into one of Hollywood's most iconic figures. I praised Ellen DeGeneres's performance in Finding Nemo, and I must do the same here. She is truly remarkable in this film, showing a shocking range of comedy and drama. For every legendary one-liner Dory utters in this film ("Hank, we need to be in that tank. Hey! That rhymed!"), she has an equally impressive scene that elicits a wide array of emotions (the scene immediately prior to her discovery of her parents is phenomenal). We genuinely care for Dory every step of the way in this film. When she hits a memory roadblock, we feel her pain. When all hope seems lost, we feel her despair, and when she finds her family, we rejoice wholeheartedly. In an industry that too often fails to further the development of their characters in sequels, Pixar hits an absolute grand slam with Dory, taking her already established irresistible qualities and adding more layers and dimensions to this legend of cinema.
Favorite Scene: Yet again, my favorite scene from a Pixar film is the emotional climax of the story. I briefly alluded to this scene in the previous section, but my favorite scene from Finding Dory is the sequence following Dory's escape from the Marine Life Institute after she had just been informed of her parents's apparent demise. As she returns to the ocean, Dory is at a loss, and DeGeneres has never been better. She fumbles over words so authentically that it makes this talking blue tang so believable. When Dory begins to think about what she should do, her thoughts eventually lead her to the ocean floor, where she discovers those fateful shells. As she connects the dots, she follows the path of the shells to a home surrounded by hundreds of shells. Dory hopelessly looks around, not entirely sure what to expect. Then, suddenly, a pair of blue tangs appear to Dory's surprise. The couple stare amazingly at Dory as she returns the gaze. Dory begins to speak, but she is interrupted by the couple, her long lost parents, who are literally overjoyed that their child has come home. It is a simple moment, but the simple moments in Pixar films are often the ones that stay with you the longest. The entire film had been leading up to this point, and instead of the revelation of Dory's parents appearing underwhelming, it becomes the signature emotional moment found in almost all Pixar film that elevates the film to the classic level. This is what we have been waiting for since 2003, and the wait was certainly worth it because of this one defining moment.FINAL Pixar Rankings: Finding Dory might move up this list in due time, but it is hard to elevate it past the ones ahead of it currently. As is the case with my Disney rankings from yesterday, I am proud of these rankings, and while everyone has a different opinion on where these films ranks, I think we can all agree that it is extremely difficult to rank Pixar's films. However, that is what I have done for their seventeen films thus far, and here's where they stand today.
- Toy Story 3
- The Incredibles
- Toy Story
- Inside Out
- Finding Nemo
- Up
- Ratatouille
- Wall-E
- Monsters Inc.
- Toy Story 2
- Finding Dory
- Brave
- Monsters University
- A Bug's Life
- Cars
- The Good Dinosaur
- Cars 2
And just like that, it's over, but the great thing about Disney and Pixar is that there is always new films on the horizon! Walt Disney once said, "It's kind of fun to the impossible," and throughout his studio's history, that is exactly what they have done: the impossible. Creating films that will endure long after all of us are gone, and more importantly, making memories that will last a lifetime and beyond. Thank you, once again, for following along with me this summer. I hope you had as much fun as I had, and now, go and share the magic!
-Cody Fleenor
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