Review of Finding Dory (2016) by Zachary G — 28 Jul 2018

Strengths: Basically, if something worked in Finding Nemo, they went back to the well here and nailed it again. As usual with Pixar, the animation is stunning. Getting something underwater to look great can be a challenge, but every single frame of Finding Nemo is splendid. Another staple of Pixar flicks is the incredible emotion they bring out of viewers. Right from the start, we see a baby Dory and how she struggles with her problem and you're instantly hooked. You feel sad for her and how she's lived life up until meeting Marlin. The movie takes us through emotional peaks and valleys with the best of them. The voice cast is again tremendous. Ellen DeGeneres (Dory) shows that she can carry the character for more than just comic relief, adding a sadness behind it all and making us feel for her character. Albert Brooks (Marlin) is strong again, while Hayden Rolence (Nemo) takes over as Nemo and does well. Ed O'Neill (Hank) is awesome as the cranky octopus who builds a friendship with Dory, while Kaitlin Olson (Destiny) and Ty Burrell (Bailey) shine in their parts.

Weaknesses: While I noted how things from the first movie worked, there is a negative to that. It can feel like a retread of Finding Nemo. The narrative is similar and it hits some familiar beats. A few scenes feel a bit over the top, even in an animated film for children.

Overall: It's a little too much like its predecessor, but Finding Dory manages to balance the humor with the emotion in a great way. It allows for a fun, beautiful looking experience that never feels like it goes on for too long.