Finding Dory (B+) Movie Review
Finding Dory stars Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, the adorable blue tang fish who suffers from short-term memory loss. She recruits the help of Marlin (Albert Brooks) and his son, Nemo, to help her find her parents that she lost when she was just a kid. For those who don't have kids or live under a rock, we've seen these characters before in PIXAR's Finding Nemo.
PIXAR, probably the best animation company working right now, has been churning out lesser works lately, with the exception of last year's remarkable Inside Out. These lesser works include Monsters University, which was solid animated fare but can't be compared to early PIXAR, and Brave, which I forgot existed. And in 2011, we had the infamous Cars 2. This string of disposable films left fans questioning whether PIXAR's best days were behind them.
While I don't think Finding Dory makes a particularly strong argument against these accusations, it easily surpasses the heights of lesser PIXAR works like Brave and Monsters University and Cars 2. For any other major animation studio, this would be an out-of-the-park home run. But because PIXAR has such an impressive output, Finding Dory will be scrutinized with a more discerning eye. It shouldn't be.
Thirteen years later, Finding Dory will introduce a whole new generation of children to the wonders of marine life - even if a majority of Finding Dory doesn't take place in the ocean. In the film, we are introduced to a wide variety of marine life, all given striking personalities and a memorable voice. This exuberant collection of characters will undoubtedly inspire fascinated kids to dig deeper into the real life science surrounding them. Finding Dory isn't necessarily educational, and I'm not one to praise a film for its educational value, but it isn't adventure fluff.
And while most of the film is indeed rooted in our ensemble's zany misadventures, there's a heart in here that a lot of mainstream animated fare lacks. It's poignant and stirring, illuminating the struggles of people with mental disabilities and even the struggles of parents of disabled children. Of course, the mentally disabled in question is Dory, who suffers from severe short-term memory loss. This causes Dory to lose her parents, frustrate those around her, and become quite frustrated with herself. Rather than portraying this as a weakness, director Andrew Stanton and his team marvelously spin it into something worth celebrating. Dory's mental illness has proven difficult for her, but it's an important part of who she is. Even Marlin and Nemo, while trying to rescue Dory, often ask themselves, "What would Dory do?" This message is an important and supportive one.
Stanton and his screenwriting team also place emphasis on, as I mentioned before, the parents of special needs children. It's a difficult job, but it's portrayed so thoughtfully here. Understandably, the parents of Dory become frustrated and worried when Dory has trouble remembering the things she's been taught. But they love and support Dory. I hesitate to say that Stanton has little new to say about the value of family. Stanton instills in us that family is important. This here is nothing new. But if you dig deeper, the focus is on those affected by mental disabilities, which is a message not often heard and rarely is it delivered with such clarity.
And yet, the adventurous PIXAR spirit is not lost. In fact, the whirlwind misadventures of our characters are often placed front and center. It's here that my biggest problem with the film arises. Though the setpieces are aplenty, and often a blast, they can feel a bit meandering. It's a small complaint but in these meandering moments, a sense of urgency is lost as Dory's journey to find her parents is set to the side. Still, it's all so enjoyable and vibrant that one can't complain too much.
Ellen DeGeneres is excellent here as Dory. Her quirky, completely unaware brand of humor works tremendously for her character. In fact, it may even be an Oscar-worthy performance. Her performance is so captivating, so endearing, so hilarious that even when every character shines, Dory rises above the rest. Another standout is Hank, the grumpy octopus who only agrees to help Dory find her parents so she'll give him her "tag" which allows him to be transferred to "the Cleveland," as Dory so adorably calls it. Modern Family's Ed O'Neill lends Hank a voice and transforms Hank into a sort of Ron Swanson-y octopus that, believe it or not, has an arc (something rare for a side character in an animated film). And then there's Ty Burrell as Bailey and Kaitlin Olsen as Destiny, a beluga whale and whale shark respectively. They're two memorable side characters, each with a spunky sense of humor, who befriend Dory and agree to help her find her parents (without expecting anything else, unlike Hank).
Finding Dory is gorgeously animated and one of those rare animated films that both children and adults alike will find themselves enraptured with. It's occasionally meandering and repetitive, but it's in possession of a heart of gold, a terrific sense of humor (really, it's quite funny), and a powerful message on the value of family. Standing as one of PIXAR's better sequels, Finding Dory seems primed to be one of the greatest animated films of the year.
FINAL GRADE: B+
MPAA RATING: PG for mild thematic elements
PIXAR, probably the best animation company working right now, has been churning out lesser works lately, with the exception of last year's remarkable Inside Out. These lesser works include Monsters University, which was solid animated fare but can't be compared to early PIXAR, and Brave, which I forgot existed. And in 2011, we had the infamous Cars 2. This string of disposable films left fans questioning whether PIXAR's best days were behind them.
While I don't think Finding Dory makes a particularly strong argument against these accusations, it easily surpasses the heights of lesser PIXAR works like Brave and Monsters University and Cars 2. For any other major animation studio, this would be an out-of-the-park home run. But because PIXAR has such an impressive output, Finding Dory will be scrutinized with a more discerning eye. It shouldn't be.
Thirteen years later, Finding Dory will introduce a whole new generation of children to the wonders of marine life - even if a majority of Finding Dory doesn't take place in the ocean. In the film, we are introduced to a wide variety of marine life, all given striking personalities and a memorable voice. This exuberant collection of characters will undoubtedly inspire fascinated kids to dig deeper into the real life science surrounding them. Finding Dory isn't necessarily educational, and I'm not one to praise a film for its educational value, but it isn't adventure fluff.
And while most of the film is indeed rooted in our ensemble's zany misadventures, there's a heart in here that a lot of mainstream animated fare lacks. It's poignant and stirring, illuminating the struggles of people with mental disabilities and even the struggles of parents of disabled children. Of course, the mentally disabled in question is Dory, who suffers from severe short-term memory loss. This causes Dory to lose her parents, frustrate those around her, and become quite frustrated with herself. Rather than portraying this as a weakness, director Andrew Stanton and his team marvelously spin it into something worth celebrating. Dory's mental illness has proven difficult for her, but it's an important part of who she is. Even Marlin and Nemo, while trying to rescue Dory, often ask themselves, "What would Dory do?" This message is an important and supportive one.
Stanton and his screenwriting team also place emphasis on, as I mentioned before, the parents of special needs children. It's a difficult job, but it's portrayed so thoughtfully here. Understandably, the parents of Dory become frustrated and worried when Dory has trouble remembering the things she's been taught. But they love and support Dory. I hesitate to say that Stanton has little new to say about the value of family. Stanton instills in us that family is important. This here is nothing new. But if you dig deeper, the focus is on those affected by mental disabilities, which is a message not often heard and rarely is it delivered with such clarity.
And yet, the adventurous PIXAR spirit is not lost. In fact, the whirlwind misadventures of our characters are often placed front and center. It's here that my biggest problem with the film arises. Though the setpieces are aplenty, and often a blast, they can feel a bit meandering. It's a small complaint but in these meandering moments, a sense of urgency is lost as Dory's journey to find her parents is set to the side. Still, it's all so enjoyable and vibrant that one can't complain too much.
Ellen DeGeneres is excellent here as Dory. Her quirky, completely unaware brand of humor works tremendously for her character. In fact, it may even be an Oscar-worthy performance. Her performance is so captivating, so endearing, so hilarious that even when every character shines, Dory rises above the rest. Another standout is Hank, the grumpy octopus who only agrees to help Dory find her parents so she'll give him her "tag" which allows him to be transferred to "the Cleveland," as Dory so adorably calls it. Modern Family's Ed O'Neill lends Hank a voice and transforms Hank into a sort of Ron Swanson-y octopus that, believe it or not, has an arc (something rare for a side character in an animated film). And then there's Ty Burrell as Bailey and Kaitlin Olsen as Destiny, a beluga whale and whale shark respectively. They're two memorable side characters, each with a spunky sense of humor, who befriend Dory and agree to help her find her parents (without expecting anything else, unlike Hank).
Finding Dory is gorgeously animated and one of those rare animated films that both children and adults alike will find themselves enraptured with. It's occasionally meandering and repetitive, but it's in possession of a heart of gold, a terrific sense of humor (really, it's quite funny), and a powerful message on the value of family. Standing as one of PIXAR's better sequels, Finding Dory seems primed to be one of the greatest animated films of the year.
FINAL GRADE: B+
MPAA RATING: PG for mild thematic elements