In recent years Disney Pixar has perfected the art of creating fantastic and imaginative children’s movies that have just enough under-the-radar adult humour to keep the adults entertained. Finding Dory is true to this formula and does not disappoint.
Finding Dory is the long-awaited sequel to the 2003 film Finding Nemo, exploring more of the storyline of Marlin’s friend and travel companion Dory. The film is set one year after the original film and finds Dory living with Marlin, who she helped reunite with his son Nemo.
Ellen DeGeneres’ (Ellen) voice brings to life the character of forgetful Dory who takes us on a journey of self-discovery. Told partially through flashbacks, Dory navigates the audience through her childhood as she struggles to remember where she came from. Her one desire is to be reunited with her long-lost parents, voiced by Diane Keaton (First Wives Club) and Eugene Levy (American Pie).
Additional voices are by Ed O’Neill (Married with Children), Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Albert Brooks (Finding Nemo), and Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), who all play friends of Dory who help her on her journey.
The characters navigate you through a vortex of emotions, with the film being bright and carefree throughout Dory’s childhood and the fun times she shares with Nemo and Marlin, whilst being heartbreakingly sombre and poignant at all the right moments. Colours are used to express emotions within the film, with the ocean quickly becoming a cold dark place when required to set the mood.
This flick has something for all ages and whilst it keeps you laughing throughout, it also sends a strong message about the environment, often depicting the ocean as a wasteland of the trash left behind by humans and the necessity of organisations such as the films fictitious Marine Life Institute.
Finding Dory is a beautiful and thought-provoking reminder that family is not only the people you grow up with. They’re the people you meet along the way.
Reviewed by Cassandra Holmes
Rating out of 10: 9
More News
