The number of funny Internet memes on Dory shows the big influence of 2003’s computer animated comedy, Finding Nemo.
It’s not hard to figure out why. Not only were viewers won over by the ocean adventure setting and premise, but Dory herself was an instantly likeable gem.
A wide-eyed, blue tang fish, who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so, her bright outlook on life and happy-go-lucky disposition is infectious.
So with her own spin-off movie out, it’s naturally a must-see film for Finding Nemo fans. The first film was about Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), a clown fish which perilously searches the ocean, with the help of Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), for his son Nemo, which had been caught by a human.
Finding Dory takes place a year after the events of Finding Nemo, when Dory suddenly gets memory flashes of how she became separated from her parents when she was small. So she sets off to find them.
The new movie’s bulging box-office collection in the US is a testimony to Dory’s popularity with viewers eager to check out her mysterious past.
It’s interesting to learn about the beginnings of our beloved character and it is a great tale indeed.
With Marlin and Nemo’s help, Dory goes to great lengths to find her parents, without letting anything get in her way, much to Marlin’s annoyance. The clown fish prefers to act only after meticulous planning, while Dory spontaneously goes with the flow, without thinking much about the possible repercussions. Her short-term memory doesn’t help either.
Naturally, they encounter plenty of obstacles and problems. Their quest, filled with many twists and turns, will make you wonder whether they will indeed find what they are looking for.
Along the way they end up at the Marine Life Institute, a conservatory that houses different ocean creatures.
There, they meet some new, lovable and helpful friends like Bailey the dramatic beluga whale (Ty Burrell), Destiny the partially blind whale shark (Kaitlin Olson) and Hank the grumpy old octopus (Ed O’Neill).
Dory learns that she has to save her parents from captivity if she wants to be reunited with them.
Finding Dory has an interesting storyline and is just as challenging and eventful as Finding Nemo.
Although the characters are imbued with human emotions and traits that make them very relatable, the feeling I get from watching this sequel isn’t quite the same as when I caught the first movie.
Finding Nemo was eye-opening due to the initial experience of the vibrant, realistic and highly detailed animation of the deep ocean.
The epic underwater journey was thrilling too because most of us would never have the chance to go that deep, or would even dare to, for that matter.
But in Finding Dory, everything seems familiar because we’ve already seen it; the novelty has worn off.
Finding Dory doesn’t have the same innocence of Finding Nemo. Perhaps it’s because an adult Dory takes centre stage in the storyline this time.
That said, there are still lots to be enjoyed in Finding Dory, provided you don’t compare it with the first. The blue fish, with her memory loss and optimism, is entertaining enough.
Some of the most endearing parts are the flashbacks featuring Dory as a toddler. Many will surely fall for her large, cute eyes and baby voice!
It’s also heartbreaking when we see Dory so desperate to find her parents, to belong and to seek comfort from someone familiar. Despite her positive mindset, there are times when she blames her short-term memory for the misadventures.
These sad scenes are not exaggerated and remind us of the reasons behind Dory’s determination.
Like Finding Nemo, Finding Dory is a great family movie, filled with life lessons, fun facts and messages on the importance of family, that young and old viewers alike can learn from and relate to. Sometimes it’s fine to be free-spirited. It’s also good to accept different ways of doing things. One scene where Dory gets trapped in plastic six-pack rings when she flees from danger, serves to remind us to not throw litter in the sea as well.
The kids also learn about echolocation (a way for certain marine life to interpret their surroundings and objects).
Another highlight of the movie is the humour on tap. One funny part is when Alien actress Sigourney Weaver is mentioned.
The voice talents do their characters justice, with DeGeneres giving a natural and lovable vocal personality to Dory. O’Neill also does an outstanding job in providing Hank the octopus with a strong edgy feel.
Finding Dory is an entertaining watch, one you won’t regret seeing. Be sure to catch the animated short, titled Piper, before Finding Dory starts. It’s barely five minutes long but is just as cute as the main movie.
And do stay tuned after Finding Dory to play the Find Hank game during the end credits.
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FINDING DORY
Directed by Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane
Voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Ed O’Neill, Ty Burrell, Albert Brooks
Duration 97 minutes
Rating U