I got to tell y'all I never considered that Pixar would ever make a sequel to Finding Nemo (2003). Especially not one thirteen years later. But, here it is starring Finding Nemo deuteragonist Dory (once again voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a regal Blue Tang attempting to seek out her long-lost parents Jenny and Charlie (Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy). The film comes out on physical DVD and Bluray today!
Albert Brooks, Bob Peterson, and Andrew Stanton reprise their respective roles as Marlin, Mr. Ray, and Crush, in Finding Dory. So, no actual voice actors from the industry? *SIGHS HEAVILY* Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Nemo, returned to direct Finding Dory with co-director Angus MacLane. The screenplay was done by Andrew Stanton and Victoria Strouse. Story by Andrew Stanton. Produced by Lindsey Collins. Music by Thomas Newman. Cinematography by Jeremy Lasky. Edited by Axel Geddes. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and first released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 17, 2016.
Contains SPOILERS.
Finding Dory isn’t merely a cash-grab. *Glares at Illumination Entertainment for the Meh Minions animated feature* No, there’s an actual story and characters brimming underneath the surface. To be fair, the narrative doesn’t break new ground, but, it does put the spotlight on diversity. While Finding Nemo overall sometimes felt mean-spirited towards Dory’s short-term memory loss and her struggle with it, the sequel respectfully reveals that from birth she possesses a unique brain (echoing Nemo’s fin). In Finding Nemo, Marlin’s overprotective from experiencing a traumatic experience approach towards Nemo is mostly because of said birthright fin before ultimately discovering that his son’s not weak nor limited due to it either through the events of said film. It is a major why concerning Nemo’s choice of swimming to touch the boat alone too.
Along her quest, Dory runs into other aquatic creatures that also have what they perceive as their own impairments, yet she tells an apologetic whale shark named Destiny (Kaitlin Olsen) that despite her nearsightedness she responds with “I think you swim beautifully. I’ve never seen a fish swim like that before.“ Destiny’s inclusion created more opportunities for Dory to speak whale, a popular joke seen in Finding Nemo (along with explaining how Dory is able to, wowzers, that just hit me!). Destiny, what a delight! There’s Hank (Ed O’Neill), a cranky East Pacific red “septopus” which steals scenes he’s in that desires to be stuck in a tank versus returning to the sea. I love everything about Hank: vocally and visually, for reals. And Bailey (Ty Burrell), a beluga whale with a head injury that believes he can no longer do echolocation as a result. His humorous chemistry with Destiny was great. Dory doesn’t simultaneously view/judge Destiny’s myopia nor Hank’s seven legs as impairments/limitations. This eventually culminates in her coming up with an akin conclusion about herself: she just kept swimming.
There’s Gerald (sea lion) and Becky (a common loon) that are both pantomime characters as well: it seemed like their inability to converse like everyone else was made fun of. In layman terms, they’re of a societal lesser hierarchy and are treated accordingly. The sea lion pair of Fluke (Idris Elba) and Rudder (Dominic West) comes off as close to abusive, um, bully-like even towards Gerald who only wishes to be accepted and allowed to lounge on a rock with them. Marlin consistently insults and questions Becky’s intelligence to Nemo’s and my own chagrin.
This is counteractive to the prevailing message of Finding Dory, I thought. Similar to how Disney’s Zootopia (2016) is about Judy Hopps breaking from gender roles and rising above stereotypes, yet it perpetuates several in the process. The worst offender was Officer Benjamin Clawhauser, an obese cheetah cop that eats constantly and somehow manages to lose a doughnut under his chin. I almost bitterly cried whenever he was onscreen, I’m serious.
As if through Finding Dory we’re telling kids it is fine to snicker at those that are different or potentially less smart than we are. Dory has a special brain and isn’t outwardly divergent appearance-wise. Alas Becky and Gerald aren’t, so, let’s point and laugh at them? That isn’t right. How damn disappointing!
On top of that, the main setting of Finding Dory is a neutral zone and not massive expansions of water full of a variety of obstacles and threats to overcome this time around. That being typed the California public aquarium presents our fish friends with its own set of interesting death-defying challenges regardless. One example that’s seen in the trailer is a touch pool intended for kids: this sequence reminded me of when Andy’s toys are first horrifyingly played with younger children and toddlers inside Sunnyside Daycare’s Caterpillar Room ala Toy Story 3. One of the lyrics from The Colors of the Wind is "You think the only people, who are people, are the ones who look and think like you. But if walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew."
Man, witnessing the touch pool part from the Finding Dory perspective seriously made me ashamed and uncomfortable that I’d participated in touch pools in the past. To observe the desperation and fear firsthand like that?! I mean, humans don’t enjoy being touched or poked, so, why in the heck would they be…? I know I don’t. Petting zoos aren’t quite as bad, at least? Hrm, not so sure, to be honest.
Anyways, all in all, Finding Dory managed to emotionally strike a cord with me more than Finding Nemo ever did. It been about a year since I learned I was on the autism spectrum and Finding Dory taught me that’s ‘kay and I’m not a lesser person. That how I am is simply dandy. I feel as if I grasp this now, truly. :’)
Finding Dory revels in the inventiveness and fluidity of Dory’s mind instead of depressingly pining about what could of been. That celebrating the differences in others with understanding, kindness, and patience is what we (universal we) should aspire to do. The third act goes a bit off the rails (when compared to Finding Nemo), entering crazy suspension of belief levels more than to my liking. Besides that and the aforementioned treatment of Gerald and Becky and of what that regrettably teaches children, Finding Dory is as good, perhaps dare I type better than Finding Nemo? I’m going to type “Yes”.
P.S. Baby Dory is too adorable! About as darn cute as the Piper short before Finding Dory, oh my goshs! Baby Dory was brought to life by Sloane Murray, the seven year old daughter of producer Lindsey Collins.
