Thirteen years after the mega-blockbuster “Finding Nemo,” Pixar
dives back into the ocean to fill in the bittersweet backstory of the forgetful,
perpetually optimistic blue tang fish, Dory (once again wonderfully voiced by
Ellen DeGeneres). And while the studio’s animated fish saga wasn’t exactly
crying out for another chapter, the result is as delightful and satisfying as
fans of the first film could have hoped.
As Pixar’s output grows to include more and more sequels to its
most beloved properties, the sterling reputation has diminished ever so
slightly: for every brilliant “Toy Story 3” there’s an instantly forgettable
“Monsters University.”
Early on in “Finding Dory,” it seems Pixar might be content
to simple rehash “Finding Nemo,” dutifully trotting out familiar characters and
referencing the most memorable events from that film. But thankfully, it
quickly finds its own voice as Dory enlists the assistance of Marlin (Albert
Brooks) and Nemo (now voiced by Hayden Rolence) to
help her reunite with her long-lost parents (Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton), who
we meet in flashbacks to Dory’s childhood, when she was the most adorably
big-eyed fry that’s ever existed.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to rank DeGeneres’ role as Dory
among the best vocal performances of all time. Dory’s unflagging optimism
clearly struck a chord with audiences, and while her short-term memory loss was
played mostly for laughs in the first film, learning her history adds a layer
of poignancy that only makes her character more endearing. The film
successfully introduces a whole new fleet of characters along the journey, most
memorably a curmudgeon octopus named Hank (voiced by Ed O’Neill), who becomes
Dory’s unlikely ally.
There’s a fun, well-staged action sequence that concludes the
movie — if you think there’s no way that a film set in the ocean can include a car
chase, well have I got news for you — and a running
joke involving the voice of a well-known performer that delighted me every
single time the film returned to it.
While “Dory” is funnier and sillier than the original, it has
its share of darker moments. Directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane turn their tale into a rather clever and heartfelt
(but never heavy-handed) examination of what it’s like to live with a
disability or to act as caregiver for a child with special needs. It’s an
unexpected but welcome facet to the film, which is sure to resonate with a lot
of people.
As is the norm, “Finding Dory” is preceded by a short, the
adorable “Piper.” Directed by Alan Barillaro, the
short follows a young sandpiper struggling to overcome a traumatic fear of
water. With an instantly loveable protagonist and stunning photorealistic
animation — from the lush ocean water to the individual grains on the sandy
beach, the short is simply dazzling.
This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2016.
