Finding Dory is directed by Andrew Stanton and stars Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neill and Kaitlin Olson. In it, Dory (DeGeneres) remembers she has parents and sets out with Marlin (Brooks) and Nemo (Rolence) to find them, but along the way she also finds herself.
2003's Finding Nemo is a childhood classic and easily ranks in the top end of the Pixar spectrum because of its touching story and superb animation. Finding Dory takes on board these two aspects and creates another brilliant addition to the Pixar collection. This film could've gone horribly wrong- it could've ended up as a complete rehash of the first but with Dory in Nemo's place, and whilst that is partly true for this film, it's not the main drive. Finding Dory acknowledges Finding Nemo's existence and doesn't milk it at all: the turtles have a brief but important cameo, the Tank Gang aren't in it and whilst the lack of Bruce, Chum and Anchor is felt, it is more than made up for with Hank (O'Neill) a serious, clever, funny octopus (or heptacus) who's relationship with Dory is half of the film. Other good additions to the story include Destiny (Olsen), a near sighted whale, and Bailey, another whale with echolocation.
What's more is that Finding Dory feels completely necessary- any questions or plot points raised in that film are touched upon here nicely, like Dory learning whale speech. When seen back-to-back the two films complete one another, and yes, Nemo is marginally the superior film, but Dory is equally impressive from its spellbindingly beautiful animation (hundreds of swimming manta rays is breathtaking to behold) to its host of gags.
But the film is of course ultimately about Dory. Ellen DeGeneres was born to voice this character and stands well above the rest of the cast- not that they aren't talented, they are all very talented. The opening shot is very cute baby Dory learning and this prologue sequence is touching. If you know parents who have a child with disabilities you can relate a lot to what Dory's parents are going through and whilst Dory's short term memory loss is occasionally played for laughs, it is also used for some serious drama that again states the fact that just because it's Pixar doesn't mean it is necessarily for children.
In a year packed with disappointing blockbusters and franchise instalments, Finding Dory sits proudly above them all as a sequel that delivers and explores more of the thought provoking themes that Finding Nemo started, all the while never forgetting to have some fun.
