Finding Dory

I have to admit I never thought a sequel to Finding Nemo would work, but it’s always a stupid idea to bet against the geniuses from Pixar.

Set one year after the events of Finding Nemo, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolance) are living happily in the reef, again. However, Dory is starting to have flashbacks and memories of her time living all the way across the ocean in California. Compelled to be reunited with her loving parents, our Blue Tang fish decides she must find them again, but Marlin isn’t all that excited to join in the adventure, while Nemo thinks it is the most awesome idea ever.

Can Dory find her parents?

Finding Dory is the movie choice for families and many others this weekend as it mixes together a great warmth, new goofy characters and some crazy action in between all of those modern lessons about family and bonding with those close to you.

We even get an amazing, incredible physics defying kinda car chase that you have to see to believe.

Writer/director Andrew Stanton gives us a movie a little light on story, but very heavy on heart. Finding Dory is extremely linear as we just go from scene to scene watching Dory, Marlin and Nemo make their way throughout all of the exhibits at the aquarium that plays such a large role in the film. The visual gags will keep kids entertained, but it’s what is below the surface that makes this film worth seeing.

Finding Dory is so warm with deep heart and soul as each character realizes what is important to them and why they must follow their hearts to be with the ones they love. These little mini-monologues are the highlights of Finding Dory as Stanton finds the right words for each character as they bare a piece of their soul and loneliness.

DeGeneres and Brooks are just as great as you remember them, but two new stars steal the show. Ed O’Neill has the entire audience in stitches as Hank – the cranky octopus who just wants to be alone until he meets the charming Dory. O'Neil is perfect as the crabby old man who just might turn around as we see the character evolve and start to let someone into his heart once again.

However, you want to go to Finding Dory to see the little baby Dory, voiced by actress Sloane Murray. The combination of her innocent, pained, heartbreaking and cute voice along with masterful animation to create the character visually is awesome to watch and feel.

Finding Dory might have been pointless from a storytelling standpoint, but everyone involved with the film tells this story very well.

Finding Dory is rated PG for mild thematic elements.

103 Minutes