Finding Dory: Feels a bit like a repeat
Print Edition
IN Pixar’s hands, the ocean — equal parts danger and wonder — is a vast metaphor for the choppy waters of parenting. Cloistered coral reefs of home are surrounded by frightful drop-offs and strong currents that can sweep a little fish out to an immense sea. When the difference between survival and shark bait is flipper-thin, how much line do parents give before reeling in?
“Finding Dory,” a sequel to 2003’s “Finding Nemo,” shifts the tale from Nemo, the clownfish with a weak fin, to Dory, the blue tang with short term memory loss — or as the baby Dory seen early in the film says, “remembery loss.”
The adventures of both Dory and Nemo are born out of straying too far from anxious parents. The gulf of separation stretches wider and longer in “Finding Dory,” but it’s covered the same way: by pluckily overcoming genetic handicaps and trusting in the Pacific-sized love of family. In the Pixar brood, the sweetly sentimental “Finding” movies are the most ready-made for parent-kid bonding; they would surely inspire countless father-son fishing trips if that didn’t mean hooking the movies’ heroes.
“Finding Dory” promotes the original’s daffy supporting character (so perfectly voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) to protagonist. But it’s not a simple switch in perspective: In seeing through her forgetful fisheyes, you realize how terrifyingly disorienting it is to be Dory. “Finding Dory” is “Memento” under the sea, with a much more chipper lead forever at pains to remember why and where she’s going.
The film, directed by Andrew Stanton, picks up six months after “Finding Nemo.” Dory is living with Nemo (Hayden Rolence, replacing Alexander Gould) and Marlin (Albert Brooks), but she’s nagged by flickers of memory of her family.
A flashback of Dory’s childhood follows. Though it doesn’t reach the gentle poetry of the famous montage in “Up,” it movingly reveals Dory’s origins: a challenged fish whose parents (Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton) teach her mantras for coping (“Just keep swimming”) but are helpless when a current sucks her away. Dory grows up a lost and confused orphan.
Energized by clues of remembrance, Dory, Nemo and a reluctant Marlin travel from Australia to California, where her search leads to the Marine Life Institute. The movie’s high point unquestionably belongs to the pair of British sea lions (Idris Elba and Dominic West, “Wire” veterans reunited) who bark at any creature that dares approach their sunning rock.
“Finding Dory,” bright and clever like most all Pixar releases, has the animation studio’s familiar blend of wit, heart and visual detail. But it’s missing its own magic. Like Dory’s questions, it feels a bit like a repeat. It’s certainly no “Cars 2” but neither does it approach the glory of “Toy Story 2.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
