“Finding Dory” just recently hit theaters, and I am proud to say that I survived the crowd of kids in line to see it. I am truly amazed how wonderful the film was. As I waited and waited with pent up excitement for this movie to come out, I tried not to get my hopes up because I thought that there was no way this movie would be better than the original, “Finding Nemo.” But, it blew my expectations out of the water (excuse the pun). It was thoughtful, creative and -- as with all truly good Disney films -- it had a powerful message. I won’t spoil the movie for those of you unlucky individuals who haven’t seen it yet, but I will tell you that the movie follows Dory as she tries, along with the help of Marlin and Nemo, to find her long-lost parents. Without further ado, here's why it was the best Disney Pixar movie of the year.
Animation
As with every cartoon about the ocean, the movie was beautifully colored. Each scene of the film was so perfectly detailed, right down to each speck of sand on the ocean floor. The craftsmanship and the time it took to detail each and every character is tremendous. Disney Pixar animators captured the true look of each and every type of fish in the film, and the accuracy of each species was astounding. Bravo, Pixar, bravo.
Comedy
Disney outdid themselves with the humor in this movie. The film was filled with funny moments for all ages. I must tell you: I laughed out loud almost throughout the entire film, and I’m 20-years-old. To me, the funniest characters in the movie were -- hands-down -- the sea lions. You’ll have to see for yourself, but I guarantee that these two will have you laughing out loud in no time. There's also humor to be found in Dory's friends she finds along the way, such as the cynical heptapus, Hank, and a beluga whale, named Bailey. And without spoiling the ending, the last 15 minutes of the movie, I couldn't stop laughing. The antics Dory and Hank use to get back in the ocean involve them hijacking a truck loaded with fish tanks and driving it down the freeway.
Baby Dory
Dory experiences flashbacks to her childhood that help her remember where her parents are, and the viewers see Dory as a child with her parents. Oh, my gosh, she's the cutest thing ever. She’s so small and tiny and her voice is so adorable. She’s the cutest baby Disney’s ever animated. And that’s saying something because up until now I thought childhood Mike Wazowski was the cutest thing.
Message
As with all films associated with Disney, there is a not-so-secret lesson to be learned from each movie. “Finding Dory” had a remarkable message about the importance of family, but the even bigger lesson came from Dory learning that she is capable of doing anything she sets her mind to. Great film, great message.
There's no doubt that when Disney and Pixar come together to make a movie, it's pure magic. And they didn't disappoint with "Finding Dory." Do yourself a favor and if you haven't seen it yet, go see it. You won't be sorry.
