Sequels may be a dime a dozen these days but not since ‘Toy Story’ has one been as hotly anticipated as ‘Finding Dory’.
Well, at least in the animation world.
Similar to ‘Toy Story 3’, a film theoretically 15 years in the making, this spin-off to ‘Finding Nemo’ comes 13 years after its predecessor. Which can only mean one thing: its core demographic is 20-somethings with nostalgia on their minds.
Naturally, Pixar’s geniuses Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane play on this like a fiddle, packing the flick with all kinds of throwbacks to ‘Finding Nemo’. No one is left wanting as they bring heroes Dory (Ellen Degeneres), Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (newcomer, Hayden Rolence) back for round two. Beloved cameo characters such as Crush and Mr Ray invoke flashbacks from the first film early on to help us relive that journey we took more than a decade ago.
If that wasn’t enough, ‘Finding Dory’ also introduces a slew of new, yet oddly familiar, characters like Fluke, Rudder and Gerald, a trio of fish-eating cockney sea lions who, like Bruce, Anchor and Chum, the sharks from the first film, turn out to be friends, not foes.
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While parallels between the two animations are rife, from its tale of a lost fish (this time, Dory) seeking to return home to its themes of family, belonging and overcoming impediments, what comes as a relief is that ‘Finding Dory’ is in no way another ‘Nemo’ film. Marlin and Nemo very much take a backseat role here, allowing Dory, the lovable fish who suffers from short-term memory loss, to shine.
The premise and catalyst of ‘Finding Dory’ is quick and simple. Minutes into the animation a memory of Dory’s past is triggered to life, spurning in her an insatiable desire to travel halfway across the ocean (again) in search of a family she once lost. As Dory traces her path home, childhood memories resurface. We witness baby Dory struggling to cope with her mental impediment with the help of her supportive parents, we learn of the origin behind that signature Dory adage: “just keep swimming” and we discover why Dory knows how to speak whale.
At its core, ‘Finding Dory’ is an animation for the senses. Never mind the linear storyline, the predictable ending or that it is 'Finding Nemo' reimagined; it’s the underwater vistas that teem with life and colour and the charming and personable characters which are the stars here. They capture our imaginations, pull at our heartstrings and make us fall in love all over again.
Get ready to feel all dem (squishy) feels.
★★★★☆
'Finding Dory' is in cinemas 16 June.
