Movie Review: Finding Dory
Following the current of recent Pixar sequels, Finding Dory works as a follow-up film to its predecessor but lacks the solidarity to make it independent. It stands as a perfect companion to Finding Nemo. It will however be individually remembered in Pixar lore because of its simple and appropriate presentation of difficult subject matter.
Unlike the polished presentation of sequels like The Empire Strikes Back or The Dark Knight (and no, I have no shame in expecting the highest of quality from Pixar: take Toy Story 2 as proof), Finding Dory presents a heartwarming but disjointed narrative. Old favorites Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) return to help Dory, along with many new characters including whales Destiny (Kaitlin Olson) and Bailey (Ty Burrell) and the machiavellian octopus (septopus, actually) Hank (Ed O’Neill) among others. The humor feels sporadic and some of the new characters under or overdeveloped, but the the film does a good job of balancing Dory’s past and present. It follows Dory’s adventure in rediscovering her family whom she forgot due to her short term memory loss. There are some hints and lines from Finding Nemo that made the story of this sequel an easy fit, the foremost being Dory’s line in Finding Nemo, “Where are they?” speaking of her parents. What was a funny moment in the first film, becomes a somber moment of realization for Dory in the sequel.
Where the film flounders in writing and secondary character development, it reaches real depths in emotional connection. This film will be treasured not for its writing but its delicate treatment of mental illness and the importance of family ties. In the end, some things are more important than impeccable writing. Fortunately, this film found itself a spot in Pixar history and will not be soon forgotten.