Sit down before I drop this bombshell: I’m not a big Finding Nemo fan. Shock-horror, I know – since its release thirteen years ago it remains one of the most successful and beloved Pixar films. I like it but find it to be a middling Pixar entry. Finding Dory had the tough task asserting its right to exist to those with little love of the Nemo universe while pleasing the diehard fans. And I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Finding Dory takes place one year after the events of Finding Nemo. Amnesiac fish Dory suddenly remembers her parents. She feels compelled to find them, so begins a quest with Marlin and Nemo to cross the ocean as fragments of memories return that clue her in on their location.

Let me get my last big controversy out of the way: I never really liked the Dory character. Towards the end of Nemo she actually starts to annoy me. I am so relieved that this is not the case in Finding Dory. The film immediately shifts the focus onto her and makes her a much more compelling character, almost to the point where I’d groan whenever it cut to Marlin.

That’s not to say that Marlin wasn’t a fun character, though – something I loved about Finding Dory was the sheer number of entertaining characters. From sunbathing sea lions to short-sighted sharks, every little character is funny and has a part to play throughout the film.

My favourite new addition is an octopus called Hank. I loved his skulking, slithery movements, as well as his back-story which made him in some ways an interesting foil to Dory.

He was funny, too, but I will say that this isn’t one of Pixar’s funniest entries – not for me, anyway. If you found Dory hilarious in Nemo then you’ll probably disagree, and that’s okay, but I came out wishing I’d laughed more. What I did like was how there were plenty of jokes for adults as well as children, which is something Pixar has always excelled at.

Before I get to what I loved most about Finding Dory, I must say that the film isn’t without some minor issues. Some writing is sketchy, like in an introductory scene when the characters are forced to wake up early yet they’re suddenly almost late for school. Times like this are when a little dinger goes off in my head à la CinemaSins but it’s hardly film-ruining. I also found the first act to be a little tedious and too much like a Finding Nemo retread, but there’s one moment when the film kicks into gear and from then I was fully engaged.

Something a little disappointing is how the themes don’t quite gel with the story. I made this point in my Zootropolis review, a film where the themes and story are tightly woven together. But in Finding Dory, her quest to find her parents is nothing more than a plot device to push the story along.

The themes are where this film shines. I’m not going to spoil anything, but where Finding Nemo was partially about overcoming physical disability, Finding Dory has lots to say about mental illness and our attitude towards it. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a subject I’m very passionate about and I was happy to see it explored in a film for children.

Not only does it teach those who suffer from mental disabilities not to apologise for their illness and that we’re all special in our own way, it advocates patience and acceptance to those without such disorders. These messages are just as important as those explored in Zootropolis, and I only wish Finding Dory went deeper (no pun intended).

Finding Dory is a perfect family film with humour and a rich message for people of all ages. If you’re a Nemo fan, you’ll love it, and if you aren’t, see it anyway because there’s plenty to enjoy and think about. (And psst, I shouldn’t say this too loud, but I think I preferred it to Finding Nemo!)

Oh, also, the short film Piper that plays beforehand is another excellent example of the visual and musical storytelling that the studio is famed for. The animation is jaw-dropping, and, well, it’s adorable.

8-8

(GRADES: Both are from 0 to 10. The left is an objective score based on artistic merit, the right is my personal enjoyment.)

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