Finding Dory

[Semaj]

Like with Monsters Inc., a sequel to Finding Nemo was not necessary. What they came up with anyway was better than expected.

I was surprised when I found out that Hank was played by the same guy who played Al Bundy from Married with Children. In a way, the it's perfect casting.

PS - The short, Piper, is the best Pixar short I've seen in quite a while.

[Tangled]

Well, that exceeded my expectations. It's funny and thoughtful and that's just fine. I was really impressed with how well they made the connections to the original film without making the allusions seem forced (I mean, it was way better at making connections than Monsters University, and I actually really liked Monsters U).

Still, talking about animated Disney-branded films released in the past year-and-a-couple-of-days, it's no Zootopia, and it's definitely no Inside Out. The movie really asks for suspension-of-disbelief from the audience, and I still really didn't buy it.

Ending spoilers: By the climax where Hank drives the trunk I sort of just zoned out because it felt like the movie was stretching just a little too hard to get a perfectly happy ending where absolutely every character ends up as one big happy family. Plus, some parts, like Dory just coincidentally bumping into Marlin and Nemo in the pipes after the clam scene, really felt like the writers were struggling to wrap up the story.

Aside from little narrative quips, however, I was plenty entertained, and the musical score was noticeably great like in the original. I've seen the themes about disability and family and living-in-the-present done before, but Pixar just excels so well at making their best films' themes matter without coming off as preachy.

Also, I'd like to note that at the beginning of the film, the audience in my theatre was laughing super hard at Dory forgetting things. Then, gradually, as the movie continued, the laughter got quieter. Eventually, it got to the point where I could people "awww"-ing whenever Dory forgot anything. The audience seemed to feel awkward for treating Dory's disability like a mere joke in the original film. I'm not sure if Pixar and/or Ellen DeGeneres intended this response, but if so then hats off to them.

[Warm Regards]

Also, I'd like to note that at the beginning of the film, the audience in my theatre was laughing super hard at Dory forgetting things. Then, gradually, as the movie continued, the laughter got quieter. Eventually, it got to the point where I could people "awww"-ing whenever Dory forgot anything. The audience seemed to feel awkward for treating Dory's disability like a mere joke in the original film. I'm not sure if Pixar and/or Ellen DeGeneres intended this response, but if so then hats off to them.

That's actually both interesting and sweet to hear, although I am interested in knowing if this transition was, I guess, "forced" on to the audience?

One of my biggest gripes in films (not so much on a moral "this is unethical" way, but more a "this plot is poorly written" way) is having the comic relief character who has a silly personality or odd quirk do their comic relief gig. Comic relief is not the issue. The issue becomes later showing the audience that the character is hurt by whoever laughed at their actions from earlier. In other words, the comic relief sets out to first make the audience laugh, then the movie hammers in that the character felt hurt by being laughed at.

Cars 2, for example, had Mater be his dumb self in the first half of the film, prompting the audience to laugh at him. However, later on there's a moment where he's feeling down trodden by the times where people thought he was stupid/ laughed at his dumb actions. It's done in a flashback style (I think), but I always found that scene to be forced.

I don't mind people realizing that what they were laughing at may have been mean spirited, as long as it's the AUDIENCE to realize this, and not the movie forcing this "you are terrible for laughing at the comic relief" mantra.

/end ramble./

[Mickeyfan1990]

I saw Finding Dory Friday and it was phenomenal, funny, and absolutely beautiful! Wonderful companion piece of Finding Nemo and while not as sensational as Nemo, it was still a great film all the same proving there are still sequels out there (even made years later) that live up to the first film.
Highly reccommended! A+ and don't forgot to stay after the credits.

[Vlad]

I saw it this weekend, and I loved it, and now I regret not staying for the closing credits. But I think I'll go the next weekend to see it again, since it was so great . IMO, it's an amazing companion to Finding Nemo, but not better.

[Kyle]

Saw it a couple days back, now that I've had time to reflect I'll give my thoughts.

It wasn't as good as Nemo, but as far as sequels go, while not on the level of the toy story sequels, it was on par or better than Monsters University. Definitely better than Cars 2, but most things are.

I liked how they handled dory's short term memory as more of a disability and less of a joke. And they managed to do so gradually, it wasn't the jaring switch over we saw with mater going from a sidekick to a staring role, if the two are even comparable that way.

The emotional moments hit the right notes. It wasnt perfect though. The humor didn't land as well as the first one. The seals were an attempt to one up the seagulls, and I'm not sure it worked, even if I did get a few laughs from them.

There were a bit too many contrivances in the second half the film. And Hank driving the truck, especially for as long as he did broke my suspension of disbelief. Somehow toy story 2 pulled this off much better to me. Maybe because it didn't really linger on it too long. On a similar note, I didn't really like what they did with the tank characters after the credits. Not only should they have died having not escaped for that long, but I wanted them to stay in the ocean after having rooted for them in the first movie. Dory seemed a little too eager to risk loosing the parents she had just spent the whole movie finding to find marlin and nemo again.

This movie ruined whalespeak/echolocation for me. It was the funniest thing to me in the first movie when it was just a joke, but this movie expected me to take it seriously and all I wanted was for it to stop.

The soundtrack wasn't as memorable to me. But maybe it needs another watch for it to set in.

[milojthatch]

Saw the film a few days ago. I didn't expect much going in (which might have helped), and while I liked it, I didn't love it. The original is way better. However, I did enjoy Hank and while it was over the top, I actually enjoyed the ending of the film. The last third I felt was better than the previous two-thirds of the film. If the original was 4 1/2 stars out of 5, I'd say "Dory" is 3 to 3 1/2 stars. Not as good, but still enjoyable enough.

[Atlantica]

Does anyone know why there is just a big gap between the UK and US release ?

[Mayhem]

Does anyone know why there is just a big gap between the UK and US release ?

Probably because most UK schools don't break up for summer until mid July.

[milojthatch]

Does anyone know why there is just a big gap between the UK and US release ?

Probably because most UK schools don't break up for summer until mid July.

I wondered the same thing a few years ago going the other way with Winnie the Pooh.

[Kyle]

By the way, did anyone else see what looked like a live action John Lasseter walking towards the camera in one of the aquarium scenes? It was heavily in shadow but looked like his mannerisms to me.

[sunhuntin]

Also, I'd like to note that at the beginning of the film, the audience in my theatre was laughing super hard at Dory forgetting things. Then, gradually, as the movie continued, the laughter got quieter. Eventually, it got to the point where I could people "awww"-ing whenever Dory forgot anything. The audience seemed to feel awkward for treating Dory's disability like a mere joke in the original film. I'm not sure if Pixar and/or Ellen DeGeneres intended this response, but if so then hats off to them.

i havent seen it yet, though it opened on thursday. havent had time, but hoping to go tuesday. i am wondering if the audiences reaction here will affect how they view dory in finding nemo, whether her memory loss will still be humerous in the context of the original film?

one thing that i found interesting on the local cinemas website, they list a couple actors per film, generally. ellen was not one of the three listed, despite her being the lead role. instead they name idris elba, then diane keaton and kaitlin olsen.

[Tangled]

i havent seen it yet, though it opened on thursday. havent had time, but hoping to go tuesday. i am wondering if the audiences reaction here will affect how they view dory in finding nemo, whether her memory loss will still be humerous in the context of the original film?

I wouldn't be surprised if the story team at Pixar intended that reaction. In a similar fashion, Monsters University actually got a similar reaction out of me. I rewatched Monsters Inc. immediately after watching Monsters University, and the idea of Mike and Sulley risking their (very hard to earn) jobs to protect Boo and reveal scaring children as an outdated source of energy made me more emotional than before I watched Monsters University.

So, yes, I personally will probably never view Finding Nemo the same way again. Just look at this scene:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTb8MVevWbE[/youtube]

That scene was probably one of the most emotional moments in the original film. Now, it's even sadder, knowing what Dory has been through to find a family and remember her home. Pixar definitely remembered that scene for Finding Dory.

"No one's ever stuck with me for so long before."

[sunhuntin]

you may well be right, there. i watched nemo on purpose last night, since we planned to see it today. it was a decent film, but not one i will be in a hurry to see again. it felt like it dragged a bit in places, and the whole whalespeak thing did my head in.
i thought there were too many coincidences and far-fetched scenarios, and it felt like the writers were desperate to tie things together in a pretty little bow. i would have preferred if dorys parents had stayed dead.
i have to wonder, how were they able to go through various water sources without issue? clown fish are saltwater and wouldnt be able to survive in the likes of the wind up fish tank. same with dory going from ocean to tank. all the fish-related programs ive watched have always emphasised matching temp and ph levels to prevent shock. [i know its a cartoon, but stuff like this bugs me. lol]

i missed all of the easter eggs, and didnt know about the after credits bit so missed that, too.

finally, i couldnt fault the animation, though this wasnt as beautiful as the first but thats due to scenery. very polluted.

its not school holidays here for another 3 weeks, and we went to the 1pm screening thinking it would be quiet. i was shocked that the cinema was pretty full, many more people than i expected to see, even school aged kids. also some women of retirement age and other folks around my age group.
i couldnt really guage the audience reaction, though most found piper to be pretty cute. was hard to "hear" what people were feeling over the noise of candy wrappers and younger kids losing patience.

normally, i take my niece and nephews to the movies over the holidays if they have earned it with good behaviour and helping out. think i will try and get them to see BFG rather than dory.

[unprincess]

I went last night with my sis and niece. I enjoyed it but yeah, not as good as the first. It tended to drag in places. Also, for a bit I really thought Pixar got some balls and actually killed off Dory's parents. I was thinking "wow, that's pretty ballsy there, Pixar!" at the same time I was cringing b/c my niece was really worried about whether Dory would find her parents, and I was already thinking of what to tell her for comfort if the tears came out. I was gonna tell her it was ok b/c she still has Marlin and Nemo who are her other family. And then even worse, Dory gets sucks out by the pipes into the ocean & ends up all alone in her misery...and then when I saw the seashells again I was like, "oh wait, its a cop out, they're alive"...my niece was very happy she found them after all. But I dunno, thought that whole ordeal was kinda bit manipulative on the audience's emotions.

i have to wonder, how were they able to go through various water sources without issue? clown fish are saltwater and wouldnt be able to survive in the likes of the wind up fish tank. same with dory going from ocean to tank. all the fish-related programs ive watched have always emphasised matching temp and ph levels to prevent shock.

I was wondering about the same thing. Also it bugged me they treated Destiny like a whale and not a shark.

[Semaj]

There was one slight issue I had with Finding Dory's continuity:

The fish lived somewhere near the coast of Australia in the original movie, right? At least somewhere close enough where a dentist living in Sydney was able to capture Nemo. If so, how were they anywhere close to coastal California? This would've been at least a 7,000 mile journey for little fish to travel from Marlin and Nemo's home to where Dory was lost from her parents.

[blackcauldron85]

(Not really spoilerish, but maybe a teensy bit!) I saw FD a couple weeks ago. I absolutely loved it. I laughed, but I sobbed a lot. It just really hit my heart hard. In any movie, "goodbyes" just kill me; this wasn't even a "goodbye." Dory's determination was amazing- she wanted help so badly, and she faced so much rejection- she's such a sweet fish, that just made me sob. I was so grateful for the friends she did have. The theme of "what makes a family" is one very close to my heart lately for personal reasons, and Marlin + Nemo + Dory, then losing them, and her parents...so much emotion. This easily is right under TS3 for me for favorite Pixar film.

[Warm Regards]

Saw the movie recently, and it was nice. As many people have said, it's not as strong as the first, but still charming in its own way.

But I too have a question: why are Bruce and co. not even present for a cameo? The sea turtles get a reprise but not the sharks? Pixar, what are your priorities?

I just think there's a missed joke opportunity for the end of the film, where everyone is in the ocean, including Bailey and Destiny. Because you know, whale sharks and belugas eat fish. We even see Dory sneak into Destiny's tank via a bucket of dead fish. Personally, it would have been a funny moment to see Bruce and co teach Bailey and Destiny the ways of being a vegetarian.

...unless of course the movie is implying that Bailey and Destiny still eat fish once in the ocean, just not Dory and her friends

[Semaj]

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4205&p=.htm

Not that it affects Dory at this point, but The Secret Life Of Pets opened at more than $100 million this weekend.

Going by the performance of Finding Dory, Zootopia, and now Pets, the audience is really affirming their appreciation for animated films these days.

[Lady Cluck]

This was better than I expected but still just okay. I enjoyed it while it lasted but I already know it's not the type of film that's going to stick with me or even one I'd want to watch again. It was a nice continuation/ending for the characters but nothing more/nothing less. Well it would be a nice ending but given the box office explosion you know the powers that be are eventually going to force Pixar to crank out another one

Marlin and Nemo were fairly pointless and annoying, but I never cared for them in the first place, especially Nemo who has to be one of the dullest characters Pixar has ever created. Frankly I was hoping for him to get lost again, this time for good. There were times I didn't like the setting either. It felt small and confined compared to the vast ocean setting of Finding Nemo (naturally), so everything seemed predictable and safe. I never felt any sense of high stakes during the film.

But I liked most of the new characters, the otters were especially cute, the animation was beautiful, and Dory wasn't nearly as annoying as I thought she'd be when given the "Mater" treatment. I actually liked the way they handled her journey and fleshed out her characterization so she's more than just stupid comic relief. Also LOVED the Sigourney Weaver gag


I do wish this would be snubbed by the Academy when the nominations are announced though It likely won't deserve a nom and the backlash would be hilarious. It may seem like an outlandish thought now, but with the way the animation branch nominates by rating its films individually on a scale instead of ranking them can lead to some surprises and smaller films getting nominated over huge box office smashes (like when The Lego Movie was snubbed). With Zootopia, Moana, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Red Turtle, and potentially other domestic or foreign animated films, it could be a tough category this year.