You’re going to cry, then laugh, then cry some more, but you'll mostly laugh while watching "Finding Dory."
If you're worried that the film — centered around the titular Blue Tang — will be a mere rehash of Pixar’s first movie, don’t be. The sequel to "Finding Nemo" is a nostalgic return to Pixar’s glory after a stumble with last fall’s gorgeous, but underwhelming "The Good Dinosaur."
Taking place a year after the events of 2003’s "Nemo" (yes, "Finding Nemo" is 13 years old!), Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) sets off to find her parents after a conversation triggers a brief memory of her mom and dad.
Just like in the first film, Dory must first get lost in order to complete her mission, but "Finding Dory" is not just about finding the Blue Tang. The movie is about helping Dory, who suffers from short-term memory loss, discover who she is and where she fits into the world.
If you grew up with "Finding Nemo," chances are you already love Dory for her easy-going, silly personality. But when you learn the story behind how she became who she is, your heart will melt and you’ll fall in love with her all over again. (Cue the tissues.)
For adults, the film sensitively tackles what it’s like having a child with a disability. So, yes, expect the tear ducts to well. In one of many flashback sequences, Dory’s parents are seen teaching the young fish mnemonic devices like rhymes and songs to help her remember little things. Though some light jokes are inserted into the scene, it’s also heartbreaking watching the small fish struggle to recall items she was told moments ago while her parents look on with worried faces.
It can frightening. It can be scary. But a disability is not what should define a person and it doesn’t mean that it’s any reason to hold an individual back. As the film says, Dory just does things in a Dory way, celebrating the phrase "What would Dory Do?" It’s a message many parents will find comforting.
But enough about what's sad in the film. "Finding Dory" is much more funny than heartbreaking, and I’d even dare say funnier than the original since it’s told widely from the perspective of the upbeat Dory.
It’s hard to not get caught up in her mis-remembering words, making silly whale noises, and singing that infectious song about swimming, swimming, swimming.
And it’s not just Dory to get excited about. Just as the seagulls were a fan favorite in the first film, get ready for an entire new crop of sea mammals Dory stumbles upon at the Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center for fish and sea animals. Kids will probably want plush stuffed animals of Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark, and one of the cute sea otters featured briefly in the movie.
There's a black-feathered bird named Becky — who may spring some sort of meme after the launch of Beyonce’s recent album with the memorable line, "Becky with the good hair"— as well as a cameo from Sigourney Weaver that becomes an enjoyable running gag in the film.
The best new addition to the cast is a cantankerous octopus by the name of Hank who winds up being an old softee. He’s voiced by Ed O’Neill of "Modern Family," and for whatever reason, the marina workers are really awful at keeping track of his whereabouts.
Perhaps the most arresting part of the film comes during a major plot revelation. I won’t give anything away, but the way in which the movie illustrates the process of someone in shock makes you feel as if it’s happening to yourself. The entire sequence could be the start for some spinoff ride based on the film.
Despite being an overall good sequel, there are two things that can get a little exhausting while watching "Finding Dory." Dory is constantly recalling memories from her past in flashback sequences. I’m aware that certain events, phrases, and songs have the ability to trigger memories, but for a fish who has short-term memory loss and had a difficult time recalling anything a year ago in "Finding Nemo," she sure is able to remember a lot all of a sudden.
Fish also just keep getting taken in "Finding Dory." It's not just a one time thing. By the third time it occurs, your suspension of disbelief wears thin to the point where you may find yourself asking, "Really? We’re going to do this again?"
You roll with it, but it’s in that final turn late in the film where the sequel slightly jumps the shark. The movie takes an odd over-the-top turn in its final minutes that feels like it would have been better suited in an animated Disney TV series like "Ducktales," but felt too silly and out of place for a Pixar movie. For that reason, I have a tough time saying this is better than "Finding Nemo."
Still, if you’re looking for the perfect "Father’s Day" movie, this is the one to see. No one is going to leave "Dory" feeling unsatisfied. Not only is it a story about finding Dory's family, it's also about realizing the family you’re looking for may have been right beside you all along.
Check out the trailer below:
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Meet the genius behind all your favorite Pixar and Disney movies