Finding Dory [G]

It was fifteen years ago, though it feels like yesterday thanks to the movie’s enduring watchability, that Marlin went on that memorable journey to find his son Nemo, meeting the loveably forgetful Dory along the way. Now, all our favourite Pixar underwater characters are back for a second turn around the ocean. 

It’s been a year since Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) helped Marlin (Albert Brooks) find Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and she now lives happily with the two as her family away from home. Until one day when a sudden flashback of her long-forgotten past sets her on a quest to fine her parents and discover how she lost them. Marlin and Nemo journey with her to a marine rescue and rehabilitation clinic where they get separated. As Dory continues looking for her parents with the help of a cynical octopus, a near-sighted whale shark, and a beluga with a head injury, Marlin and Nemo go through their own adventures as they try to find Dory. 

Whilst sequels hardly ever live up to their predecessors, Finding Dory comes pretty close. The movie is immediately undeniably charming because its central character is the loveable blue tang suffering from short-term memory loss that stole our hearts in Finding Nemo. Dory is still as perky and optimistic as she was in the first film and her cuteness is heightened when we get to see her as a little baby fishling. With large eyes and an adorable way of saying ‘memory loss’ (“remembry-loss”) she instantly grabs at the heartstrings and takes us along for the ride. 

While the story is a pseudo carbon copy of the original hunt for a family member, there are two separate character journeys happening simultaneously. Finding new friends (and reuniting with old ones), Dory’s journey is one of self-discovery that gives us answers as to the origin of her ‘Just Keep Swimming’ song and her ability to speak whale. 

Meanwhile, Marlin goes through a similar journey of discovery. Admittedly it’s the same as he went through in the first film, but this time around there is a nice added layer of love for Dory as well as admiration for the way she goes through life. It’s very sweet. 

Without a doubt though, the best story is in the relationship between Dory and Hank the octopus (Ed O’Neil) who begins the movie helping Dory for the sole purpose of getting her tag that would transport her to Cleveland to a new exhibit. Hank spends much of the film being cynical and heartless (despite his having three), but after considerable time with Dory he learns to love and it’s his gradual transformation that makes their little story to poignant. 

The animation is right on par with the first: Pixar have colour and crispness down to an absolute art and even in the murkier settings, there is still beauty to behold. The attention to detail in textures and sound is flawless and instantly captivating and we don’t dare close our eyes for fear that me might miss some gorgeous bit of animation. 

Alongside Brooks and DeGeneres are the voice talents of Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Bill Hader, and Sigourney Weaver providing new and loveable characters that make Finding Dory the charming and moving family adventure it is.